four Easter meditations in a time of isolation

Maundy Thursday: mandatum

Spoken
Written
Given
Finished
The law and all the prophets fulfilled by

The Christ’s commandment: love
The Master’s mantle: humility
The Saviour’s statement: sacrifice

For He has spoken – 
breathed life into our dusty frames
imprinted imago dei 
on our very souls

And He has written  –
inscribed a not so secret cipher 
revealing mystery
the story of eternity 
deep within our hearts

And He has given – 
all He could give: Himself
to sign His Name guarantor
our debt ledger wiped
when the riches of Christ
paid the price for my life

Therefore
He has finished – 
Uttered the definitive word
the once and now and always verb
resurrected

The first of the new birth
that we too may be reborn
transformed
returned home from our exile
reinstated to our true place
welcomed again to the embrace of the family
where we were born to belong

Once more defined 
by the purpose He designed
that we might live fully aligned

To the Saviour’s statement: sacrifice
To the Master’s mandate: humility
To the Christ’s commandment: love

So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you're my true followers.
John 13:34 (The Passion)