Today’s readings are quite unified in their ideas that Christ’s teachings that He comes from the Father and has come to save the just and to heal the brokenhearted and be received by his believers, while those who are his enemies want to kill him. Yet His time has not yet come, but soon. This is foreshadowing the Crucifixion in the ensuing months. Today He is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles which happens at Harvest time. He will return to another festival, The Passover, in the spring for his final pilgrimage.
The first reading sets up the Gospel “He boasts…that God is His Father. Let us see whether His words are true.”
My meditation today invites you to sit with your Bible and read the entire chapter of John 7 as the reading at Mass only gives a small taste of the greater context of the feast of Tabernacles, its celebration of joy, and what occurs during the seven days. Here we see our Lord come in secret to attend the festival, but do not see how that soon turns into a public proclamation in the temple, teaching and doing His Father’s work, reminiscent of many years before when he did the same as a young man of twelve.
Party Manners, Please
In the context of this Gospel, I thought I would share about a historic Christmas party I once gave for friends I called: The Jewish Festivals and their Fulfillment in our Catholic Faith. Each year to honor St. Nicholas, I gave a special party with China, formal decorations, and lots of home cooked food fitting to the theme. Each guest would have a memorable experience immersed in every way in the historic theme. Just like many parties, we read about in the gospels. Guests dressed in long flowing gowns and tuxedos to set the mood that this evening was different. Each couple left learning about something unusual. Loving their faith a little more and taking a true step away from everyday life as they laughed, ate, and celebrated. I relished the months of research and piles of books from the library I checked out to prepare for the “feast,” and the beauty of all the meaning and symbolism. Often, I savored the stories of the people that throughout the ages celebrated God in such unique ways representing their culture. And, most importantly, their particular relationship with Him and with each other. I loved how much my own kids, although small, were equally delighted on this special evening every year. It makes me smile to think that just like my children, Our Lord from a small age equally anticipated the next festival or feast. My own kids were little, but created their own memories amidst all the adults. They smiled as they sneaked the party food into their fort under the dining table without being noticed. My children have fond memories of “attending the feast not openly but in secret” (today’s Gospel). The long tablecloth provided cover to their fortress only an arm’s length to the desired supplies.
Gift of Love
This celebration of Faith and Friendship became a gift of love to encourage the spread of the love of tradition. So it was always set with pretty linens and China to make each person feel more special. Just like the Jewish festivals that they looked forward to, this party too became nights of joy and lively conversation. Tradition is so important. It was important to our Lord, and to the Jews and has carried through to our own dear Catholic Faith. The tradition of going to Jerusalem was something our Lord loved and did not want to miss.
I first learned about the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot, in preparing this party. I laugh thinking about creating my own “tabernacles” on my kitchen island, as I sprinkled out cornmeal for the desert and set up tents made from Matzoh crackers fastened with a paste I made to glue the seams together. The tabernacles kept falling apart! I had to begin again until I could finally make them “just so” and they lasted until intentionally taken down. This scene represented only a snapshot of the ones from long ago when the Jews set out on a great pilgrimage to thank their God and praise Him with gifts of the Harvest, sacrifices of thanksgiving in the temple. They celebrated the blessings they had been given and for their forefathers finally reaching the Promised Land. And for the temple, a true place to worship, sacrifice and offer Thanksgiving. It also marked a special way to await and look for the Messiah and their redemption.
On a Pilgrimage to God
Imagine our Lord in His first “Tabernacle” as a child, in the one St. Joseph made for him and took special care to cover His Sacred Person. So that He was safe from the elements and scavengers that lurked when they made such journeys. St. Joseph prepared one every year over and over for our Lord. A new tabernacle that would “house” the Holy of holies. Always with love and care for Him. It is beautiful to contemplate that our Lord slept in a tabernacle, just as He still does for us today on our pilgrimage with Him to heaven.
“Christ came to fulfill the old law, not to destroy it. “Just as we hear about this special feast important to our Lord in the Gospel today, let us cherish our own Catholic feasts steeped in many of these same Jewish traditions. Their Tradition(s) repeated over and over, in praise and thanksgiving, honoring the Messiah to come, rejoicing and sacrificing together in the Community, in their worship of God. Does it sound familiar? The Mass? The Eucharist? Prayer? They ended their Feast of Tabernacles fully illuminating the Temple so that nothing could be left in darkness. Don’t we do the same?
Lights
Think of the lights in our own church, for the Mass, for the Easter Vigil, for Baptism, and so forth. Jesus is the light of the world, that there may be no darkness. Most especially, think of the red lamp lit to show us that Christ is present in the Eucharist in the tabernacle. We light candles and make prayers for petitions. On and on you can see the beauty of light and how it shows that Christ brings us out of darkness for He is the light as He says in the next chapter of the Gospel of John. He comes to bring the light, and He comes from the Father as He speaks about in the readings to save us, the brokenhearted. But he does not come alone. “You know me and also know where I come from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.”
Jesus continues to provide for us now in our own tabernacles close by and around the world. Let us run each day to Him, blow Him a kiss and say thank you. I adore you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Holy Trinity is so happy to see you and has been waiting for you. Do not waste another minute, run to each of them and bring them back to the whole world.
