The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: These are the appointed festivals of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed festivals.

For six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work: it is a sabbath to the Lord throughout your settlements.  – Leviticus 23:1-3

Time. 

Time can be a fickle friend. Some days feel like they last for an eternity while years can fly by in an instant. Managing our time is a lifelong pursuit. The quality of our lives however, is measured by moments rather than minutes. We memorialize our time through experience as we cycle through the circle of life.

This Thanksgiving holiday has been a wonderful opportunity for me to reconnect with loved ones, create new memories, and cherish the relationships that matter significantly. Holidays tend to be benchmarks for measuring our passage of experiences. Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant calendar events mark the occasions that help us to not only remember but cherish those moments that are most dear.

This Sunday we will recall the way in which the Church tells time. As early as our ancestral faith roots were planted, we have honored and celebrated God’s presence with God’s people. It is in this active remembering that we are reminded of our calling and purpose.

Leviticus 23 describes the Sabbath together with seven feasts, namely the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of the Harvest, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. These feasts of the Lord are ‘appointed seasons’ for ‘holy convocations’.

In antiquity, time was measured from one feast day to the next. Though the celebrations may be different for us as modern day Christians the process and purpose continues to bring us reminders of God’s eternal presence.

I look forward to journeying with you soon into the advent season leading us to Christmas as we meditate together around the theme “A Weary World Rejoices.” See you Sunday.

Brett