The Lord's passing through the land of Egypt destroying all the first born is a cruel image of our God. How can we reconcile that cruelty with the love that God was showing for his chosen ones Israel. It is quite terrible to think about. But God so loved the world that he as his Son brought His Spirit into the world by the killing of Himself He allowed to happen tomorrow. His Spirit is the guidance that the Church is to pass on to us who are left in the belief of this day.

Dear Lord send you Spirit into our hearts that we might today we able to withstand all temptation and be a people fitting for your love.

Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is an image that is much more comfortable than the "Passover of the Lord". But it is the same God in both. How can we know and love God who is so seemingly contradictory. It seems that the answer which we must find in the freedom God allows to us in our being  must be used to know him, love him and serve him in this world and be happy with him in the next.

Lord let our clergy be for us examples of right being and loving service, and not of hollow knowledge.