Coming Down
Tomorrow at sundown our Jewish brothers and sisters will celebrate Shavuot. This festival falls exactly seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot actually means “weeks.” The festival celebrates many things: the harvest, celebrating the first fruits and celebrating the giving of the Ten Commandments.
In Exodus 34:18-36, we can read about the giving of the Law. Shavout or Zeman Matan Toratenu, the Season of the Giving of Our Law, commemorates the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. If you have never been to synagogue on Shavout—go tomorrow night. It is one of my favorite services—honoring Torah, dancing with Torah, praising G-d for giving us the gift of how to live! It is beautiful.
One tradition around Shavuot is to join together in a reading vigil. One rabbi writes,
According to tradition the Israelites actually overslept on the morning of G-d's visit. To compensate for this negligence, Jews hold a vigil on the eve of Shavuot. They stay awake from dusk to dawn, keeping themselves busy with the readings of the Torah and the Talmud. A digest of readings has evolved called Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the "Restoration of Shavuot Eve," which includes selections from the Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud, and the Zohar.
Oh, that we Protestants who claim that Bible to be so important would adopt such a joyful ceremony. Think of it…all night readings, dramatizations and interpretations. Allowing the Word to speak through the word. Sometimes this holiday is also called Pentecost.
G-d gave the Law and Moses came down to the people who were prepared to receive… God gave the Spirit and it came down upon the people who were prepared to receive…
I do not believe the Spirit replaces the Word of God—moreover the Spirit is given to illumine the Word that has been given. Those of us who become too rigid and worship the text or certain passages in the text would do well to remember the freedom and power of the Spirit. Those of us who are free in the Spirit would do well to remember the freedom and power of the Word. Somehow the timing is not just coincidental to me.
God is the great giver of gifts providing us all that we need: manna, water, word, the Word and the Holy Spirit. Indeed Jesus was the first fruit of God. May we celebrate with dancing and tongues of fire. Lest we be caught sleeping, may we keep vigil and prepare to receive the Spirit anew. May we embody the Word come down from above empowered by the Spirit come down from above. May we go out with singing sharing our joy!
In Exodus 34:18-36, we can read about the giving of the Law. Shavout or Zeman Matan Toratenu, the Season of the Giving of Our Law, commemorates the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. If you have never been to synagogue on Shavout—go tomorrow night. It is one of my favorite services—honoring Torah, dancing with Torah, praising G-d for giving us the gift of how to live! It is beautiful.
One tradition around Shavuot is to join together in a reading vigil. One rabbi writes,
According to tradition the Israelites actually overslept on the morning of G-d's visit. To compensate for this negligence, Jews hold a vigil on the eve of Shavuot. They stay awake from dusk to dawn, keeping themselves busy with the readings of the Torah and the Talmud. A digest of readings has evolved called Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the "Restoration of Shavuot Eve," which includes selections from the Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud, and the Zohar.
Oh, that we Protestants who claim that Bible to be so important would adopt such a joyful ceremony. Think of it…all night readings, dramatizations and interpretations. Allowing the Word to speak through the word. Sometimes this holiday is also called Pentecost.
G-d gave the Law and Moses came down to the people who were prepared to receive… God gave the Spirit and it came down upon the people who were prepared to receive…
I do not believe the Spirit replaces the Word of God—moreover the Spirit is given to illumine the Word that has been given. Those of us who become too rigid and worship the text or certain passages in the text would do well to remember the freedom and power of the Spirit. Those of us who are free in the Spirit would do well to remember the freedom and power of the Word. Somehow the timing is not just coincidental to me.
God is the great giver of gifts providing us all that we need: manna, water, word, the Word and the Holy Spirit. Indeed Jesus was the first fruit of God. May we celebrate with dancing and tongues of fire. Lest we be caught sleeping, may we keep vigil and prepare to receive the Spirit anew. May we embody the Word come down from above empowered by the Spirit come down from above. May we go out with singing sharing our joy!
Shavuot and Pentecost Blessings! Julie
posted by Rick at 3:09 PM
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