April 13, 2025

We are in the midst of the great Jewish and Christian holy days of Passover and Holy Week. 

During the Passover Seder meal, a beautiful prayer of gratitude is offered. It is called the “Dayenu” which means “It would have been enough”. The prayer recounts fifteen different gifts that God has given the Jewish people. After naming each gift, this phrase is repeated, “It would have been enough…”  To read the full Jewish prayer, click here: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/dayenu-it-would-have-been-enough/

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The prayer is a celebration of the abundance of God toward us and toward all creation. For each of us, our personal translation might be something like this: 

• Not just the sun and moon, which would have been enough, – but also stars, planets, comets, quasars … 
• Not just a robin, which would have been enough, – but also a blue jay, hummingbird, parrot, stork, flamingo … 
• Not just my breath, which would have been enough, – but also my ability to move, to think, to love, to choose, to bless … 
• Not just my parents, which would have been enough, — but also my siblings, my spouse, my children, my grandchildren, my friends,,,
• Not just my humanity, which would have been enough, – but also the rich humanity of every race, ethnicity, color, culture and personality …. 

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As Jews and Christians, we will spend time this week remembering our lifelong passage through grace to freedom. But whatever our faith context, all of us can recognize God’s power in sustaining our lives through challenge and fear to bring us to light and life. 

Try today to count the gifts of the Creator’s abundance in your life. It will be impossible because they are infinite. Still, after each precious memory and name, we can breathe the blessing of the Dayenu: “It would have been enough.”

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Music: Dayenu – Pagoda Online Learning

For Your Reflection

• What feelings or reactions do I have after reading this reflection?
• Do my feelings or reactions remind me of any passage or event in scripture, especially in the life of Christ? 
• What actions might I take today because of my response to these readings?

Suggested Scripture: Luke 22:14-23