Lent 2025 Day 34: Breaking Bread, Remembering Freedom
- Flannel Diaries
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 13
"Passover affirms the great truth that liberty is the inalienable right of every human being." —Morris Joseph
Happy Passover, my friends. Passover begins at sundown on April 12th and runs through the 20th. One of the most meaningful traditions during Passover is the Seder—a ritual meal filled with prayer, storytelling, and symbolic food to commemorate the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in Egypt.
I used to work at Saul’s Restaurant & Deli when I lived in Berkeley, CA. During Passover, we sold so many latkes and matzah ball soups you'd think it was going out of style. And I loved it. Saul’s was a special place for me—not just because of the food (though yes, the food was amazing), but because of the people: my coworkers, our regulars, and the spirit of community we created there. I was one of the few non-Jewish folks on the staff, and I loved learning about the Jewish holidays and the meaning behind the meals.
What I wouldn’t do for a matzah ball soup from Saul’s right now...
Passover celebrates the Exodus, the story of Moses, Pharaoh, and ten plagues. If you grew up in Sunday school, you probably remember the frogs and locusts and blood in the Nile. The whole deal. It’s a powerful narrative about oppression, resistance, and freedom. It's also a reminder that liberation isn't easy. Even after they were freed, the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years. Freedom doesn't come without struggle. Sometimes, we’re freed externally, but we still carry the wilderness inside us.
And really, aren’t we living through our own version of a plague? Not just literal illness, but social sickness, political unrest, and the slow erosion of compassion.
Easter is just around the corner. These holidays—Passover and Easter—remind us that we are not meant to walk alone. They center around tables. Meals. Bread shared among family. Wine poured out in remembrance. Whether you’re Jewish or Christian or somewhere else entirely on the spiritual spectrum, the act of gathering together for food, love, and memory is universal.
Growing up, I always looked forward to the big holidays because I knew I'd be surrounded by relatives and more food than we could eat in three sittings (Let’s be real, Filipino gatherings are a buffet marathon). I mostly looked forward to the desserts.
Now that I live far from my family, I’ve come to appreciate how my friendships have become my chosen family. These days, I spend most of my time sharing meals with friends, usually in restaurants, laughing too loud, and ordering too much food. My housemate and I even have family dinners twice a week. It grounds us. It feels familiar. Growing up, no matter how busy or chaotic life got, my family always sat down and ate dinner together.
I miss my mother’s cooking. I miss my mother. But I’m grateful to still have the sacred ritual of the dinner table. To break bread, pour drinks, and share stories with the people who hold me up.
So this Easter, there may be ham. There will definitely be cocktails. But more importantly, there will be friendship, chosen family, and gratitude for the little traditions we carry forward.
Passover Blessing Before the Meal
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, hamotzi lechem min haaretz.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Lenten Reflection: The Tables We Build
“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.” – Psalm 68:6 (NIV)
This season is about freedom. Liberation from shame, from fear, from old wounds that try to claim us. As Passover begins and Easter approaches, we are reminded that breaking bread is holy. Gathering in love is resistance. Healing is possible—and it often begins at the table.
🔹 Who is at your table?
🔹 What old story are you ready to rewrite?
🔹 How can you make space for freedom, in yourself and for others?
Whether you are celebrating with family, chosen or biological, or spending the holiday quietly at home—remember that you are never alone in the wilderness. God is still leading us out.
As above, so below. Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other.
📖 More reflections: flanneldiaries.com
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