Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani Abbey

Vigils Reading
2026-02-28
OUR PART IN THE PASSOVER
From a homily by St Gregory Nazianzen
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We are soon going to share in the Passover, and although we still do so
only in a symbolic way, the symbolism already has more clarity than it
possessed in former times, because under the law, the Passover was, if I may
dare to say so, only a symbol of a symbol. Before long, however, when the Word
drinks the new wine with us in the kingdom of his Father, we shall be keeping
the Passover in a yet more perfect way and with deeper understanding. He will
then reveal to us and make clear what he has so far only partially disclosed. For
this wine, so familiar to us now, is eternally new. It is for us to learn what this
drinking is, and for him to teach us. He has to communicate this knowledge to
his disciples, because teaching is food, even for the teacher.
So let us take our part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in a literal
way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel; not in an imperfect way, but
perfectly; not only for a time, but eternally. Let us regard as our home the
heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly one, the city glorified by angels, not the one
laid waste by armies. We are not required to sacrifice young bulls or rams,
beasts with horns and hoofs that are more dead than alive and devoid of feeling;
but instead let us join the choirs of angels in offering God upon his heavenly
altar a sacrifice of praise.
We must now pass through the first veil and approach the second, turning
our eyes toward the Holy of Holies. I will say more: we must sacrifice ourselves
to God each day and in everything we do, accepting all that happens to us for the
sake of the Word, imitating his passion by our sufferings, and honoring his
blood by shedding our own. We must be ready to be crucified.
If you are a Simon of Cyrene, take up your cross and follow Christ. If you
are crucified beside him like one of the thieves, now, like the good thief,
acknowledge your God. For your sake, and because of your sin, Christ himself
was regarded as a sinner; for his sake, therefore, you must cease to sin. Worship
him who hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there
yourself. Derive some benefit from the very shame; purchase salvation with
your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen.
Contemplate the glories there, and leave the other scoffing thief to die outside in
his blasphemy.
If you are a Joseph of Arimathea, go to the one who ordered his
crucifixion, and ask for Christ’s body. Make your own the expiation for the
sins of the whole world. If you are a Nicodemus, like the man who worshiped
God by night, bring spices and prepare Christ’s body for burial. If you are one
of the Mary’s or Salome or Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be the first to
see the stone rolled back, and even the angels perhaps, and Jesus himself.
