It’s Maundy (mandatum) Thursday, the day Jesus gave his mandate:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
That means we love all people with the love of the Lord, with grace and forgiveness.
This is like Christian Valentine’s Day. It’s the day we say again – echoing all other days – “I love you.”
This is also the day we say “Dayenu,” which means, “It would have been enough.”
The day before he was crucified, Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. It was here he instituted the Eucharist and where he gave his command of love.
Jews around the world will soon be celebrating the Passover again, saying “Dayenu.” They say:
Had God brought us out of Egypt, but not fed us in the desert, it would have been enough. Had God fed us with manna, but not ordained the Sabbath, it would have been enough. Had he ordained the Sabbath, but not brought us to Mount Sinai, it would have been enough. Had he brought us to Mount Sinai, but not given us the Torah, it would have been enough. Had he given us the Torah, but not led us into Israel, it would have been enough. Had he led us into Israel, but not sent the prophets, it would have been enough.
Had God not done anything for us except rescue us from slavery, it would have been enough.
Today, Christians continue that 3,000 year old celebration of Passover. And we say the same thing: “Dayenu.”
Had God not done anything for us except send his Son to rescue us from our slavery to sin, it would have been enough.
Had God brought us out of our deadness in sin through the sanctifying work of Jesus Christ, but not given us any other good gift, it still would have been enough. Had God not ordained for us a day and a family and a job to do, Jesus still would have been enough. Had God not brought us into places of safety and ease and blessing, Jesus still would have been enough. Had God not raised up the Church, and leaders in the Church, and servants in the Church, and a mission for the Church, Jesus still would have been enough. Had God not given us the Bible, or revealed himself in the universe or in people or the Church fathers or in the Spirit or in the Eucharist, Jesus still would have been enough. Had God not given us anything else but Jesus – had he not given us joys or peace, health or safety, the very air we breathe, Jesus still would have been enough.
So dayenu. Even if there is nothing else, Jesus is enough.
Thank you for revealing an aspect of the Gospel Word I had never considered. I think of the martyrs in ages past and time present who live and die by these words. You can take everything else away from me, even my life, because my life in Christ is enough.
I think that’s exactly right. I must say, however, for all of us it’s much more easily said than lived!