Your Story. Your voice. the best it can be.
Costumes, dancing and feasting and giving food gifts. Purim is a joyous celebration of deliverance and survival. And it almost always falls during the solemn Lenten season.
“Why don’t you go to another church?”
“Because I’m Catholic,” Harold answered.
“You’re not Catholic,” I argued, “if you don’t believe what they teach.”
Harold just smiled. “I’m Catholic.”
Harold and I were in high school, those extraordinary years of challenging our parents and forming opinions of our own. In some ways . . .
The One who spoke the universe into existence did not need six days to do it. And he wasn’t worn out and needing a break when he finished. He created the seven-day week for us, for all humans, as a natural, immersive learning opportunity, to teach us how to live and how to die.
“But that’s your Christmas,” my neighbor insisted, after I explained to her that the menorah on the table was for Hanukkah.
“No,” I said,”It’s not. It’s Hanukkah.”
“Right. Your Christmas.” She smiled her tolerant smile.
“It’s a different thing…” I started, but she had made up her mind…
If you’re not building a booth to celebrate Sukkot, try some of these ideas to keep joy in the season.
“If you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?” — Jesus (Matthew 5:47) Every holiday season, people contact me to ask for prayer for broken relationships caused by doctrinal differences. So much hurt is caused in the name of “defending the faith”. Is having or not having a Christmas tree in your living room really worth your marriage? Is candlelight more important than compassion? …
Both Passover and Easter represent freedom and restoration. Remember not to get so hung up on customs that you lose the point of the faith. In a week, the holidays pass, and we’re left with the memory of how we treated (or mistreated) one another.
In the ultimate irony, they accuse their brothers and sisters of Paganism because of superficialities like Christmas trees and holly wreaths, at the same time replacing the attributes of the one true God with the personality of a Pagan god.
Rosh Hashana, the Biblical Feast of Trumpets and the Jewish New Year, begins at sunset tonight (Wednesday, September 28, 2011)!
Your Story. Your voice. the best it can be.
A personal blog by John Parsons, author of the Hebrew for Christians web site.
Your Story. Your voice. the best it can be.
Your Story. Your voice. the best it can be.
Your Story. Your voice. the best it can be.
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