17th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 4th August 2023 – Leviticus 23,1-37; Mt 13,54-58
Celebrations of Remembrance
The first reading from the book of Leviticus deals with the Jewish calendar and its major feasts. From the time of Moses until the time of Jesus, the first feast mentioned and celebrated each year was Passover- the most important of all feasts. Following Passover and the feast of the Unleavened Bread was Pentecost, which is a thanksgiving feast after the grain harvest and the giving of the law on Mt.Sinai. In the fall, came the Day of Atonement and the feast of Booths, which commemorates their sinfulness and their traveling in the desert in tents. Most of the feasts spring from the “remembering” of the experiences dealing with the Exodus. The Israelites are told to remember and celebrate these key festivals throughout the year, so that they and their descendants will never forget what God has done for them, through the whole Exodus and journey to the Promised Land. At the same time, these celebrations affirm their unique identity and purpose.
Remembering can be both productive and also destructive. If we remember the good that has happened because of God’s working in our lives, it can lead us to a sense of appreciation and thankfulness. If we only remember what seems ordinary and fail to see the hand of God in our daily activities, we will not be able to accept even the great signs of God’s blessings. The correct perspective of remembering involves our attitude and our openness to God, in recognizing God at work even in small things of our daily activities. At times, one must see beyond the narrow perspective of our limited view of the past.
