The Day of Atonement

Pay heed to God’s commands and do atonement properly in a regular basis.

In Leviticus 16, God gave clear instructions on the requirements and the procedures to be fulfilled on the Day of Atonement, which was to be held annually.

Into the Holy Place:

Aaron and other priests shouldn’t enter just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil lest they die. To enter properly, they must wash body, wear the holy garments (specially designed for the priests), and bring along the animals for offerings…

Nowadays, the church is the Holy Place. Preparation of the altar, the chalice, the corporal and the burse will be done before the mass. Priests ought to wash their hands, say specific prayers when they are vesting in the sacristy with a unique sequence: the amice, the alb, the cincture, the maniple, the stole and finally, the chasuble.

There is no standard clothing for the church members and yet we must dress decently. No sleeveless garment and shorts to show the bare arms and legs. No sexy clothing.

Offerings to God changed after Christ and priests live on the money donated now. Everyone silences their cell phone and pager so that the ringtone won’t interrupt the mass.

Compulsory rituals:

According to God’s commands, Aaron (priest) must make atonement for himself and his house, the Holy Sanctuary, the tabernacle, the altar, and all the people of the assembly. The rituals involved killing and burning the animal, sprinkling its blood and freeing the scapegoat. For helpers in the burning and the freeing, they must wash their clothes and body before re-entering into the camp.

Nowadays, a mass is composed of several rituals namely Introductory Rite, Penitential Rite, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Communion Rite and Concluding Rite. We repent and receive the Communion to strengthen our faith.

Rules to observe:

The Day of Atonement was held annually, on every 10^th of July. People must afflict their souls and work not, but let the priests do atonement for them, to cleanse them so that they could be clean from all their sins before the LORD.

Nowadays, we can confess our sins and do atonement more often. We say the prayer Act of Contrition; have Penitential Rite in the mass and Reconciliation of Individual Penitents. The minimum requirement for the last one is like the old days -- once a year.

We could afflict our souls every Friday with fasting – eat no meats, cut entertainment, do volunteer work and give alms. If possible, don’t work but take a good rest on Sunday.

Major or minor, sin separates us from God. To reconcile with the LORD, atonement is vital to free us from sins so that we could enjoy HIS presence. We can’t be lazy and careless on this crucial issue.

Let’s pray to God:

The merciful LORD, thanks for Your loving-kindness and forgiveness. Pray that more people confess their sins to You, be forgiven, reconcile with You, and in praise of Your glory shortly and forever. Amen.

Clean and Unclean

Be alert to the clean and the unclean, and keep clean all the time.

In Leviticus 11 – 15, God instructed children of Israel how to distinguish between the clean and the unclean, and how to cleanse the self.

Clean and unclean laws:

1)      Foods permitted and forbidden

God told HIS people what animals they could eat and what not, and the criteria to discern.

2)      Unclean animals

Children of Israel shouldn’t eat or touch the unclean animals. No touching on carcasses as well. Detect the unclean, handle the contaminated items properly, for example, wash, break, and complete the necessary steps to be clean again.

3)      After childbirth

The unclean period differed and depended on the gender of the baby. When the days of purification were fulfilled, the concerned woman must seek the priest’s help -- make atonement for her with burnt offering and sin offering, and she would be clean.

4)      Leprosy

Concerning the illness below, priests played a vital role to examine, discern and pronounce people clean or unclean, and handle offerings to make atonement for them.

a)      Leprous sore

b)      Old leprosy

c)      A boil

d)      A burn

e)      Scaly sore

f)       Leprosy breaking out on one’s bald head or on his forehead

Restraints should be observed during the unclean period. The healed leper must undergo the ritual to get cleansed. Besides body, garment and house could also be unclean due to the spread of the plague. After priest’s examination and discernment, proper handling, for example, to clean or to destroy, ought to take place.

5)      Bodily discharges

The discharges include semen from men, blood (menstruation) from women. Belongings of the unclean people such as bed, seat, and clothes also required cleaning.

God loves and cherishes HIS people. We ought to consecrate ourselves and be holy rather than defile ourselves. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish between the clean and the unclean, observe the laws to stay clean and cleanse ourselves all the time; otherwise, we will suffer from the bad consequences of all kinds of contamination to our body, mind and heart in particular.

Nowadays, we pray to God, wash our body with water and soap to get rid of the dirt, have medical treatment to cope with illness, visit the Church to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness via the penitential rite in the mass and reconciliation of individual penitents. Remaining unclean will only prolong our corruption, drown us in forgetfulness, feed us indifference and lead us sin more in the lawless status.

Stop disrespecting God. Purify ourselves shortly and thoroughly. God knows the best for us. So, keep HIS laws sternly and never be shy to confess our sins with the priests. Make atonement and be clean again without delay lest we lost HIS presence, love and mercy.

Let’s pray to God:

Our heavenly Father, give us wisdom to discern and avoid the unclean, and do the purification shortly if necessary. Save our body, heart and mind from being defiled and strengthen us to observe Your laws firmly. Amen.

Earliest Priesthood

Aaron and his sons were consecrated and the priestly ministry began.

In Leviticus 8 – 10, Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons according to God’s commands. Every procedure must be followed strictly lest one would die. Aaron’s two sons died due to the offer of profane fire.

Aaron, his sons and his generations were appointed by God and they were the earliest priests. Aaron, his sons, the tabernacle and all that was in it, the altar and all its utensils were anointed. The consecration had to do with men and their garments. Aaron and his sons must not go outside but stayed at the door of the tabernacle of meeting day and night for seven days, and kept the charge of the LORD, so that they might not die.

Unique laws for priests:

1)      Their specific garments and ways of dressing

2)      The consecration

3)      Atonements for the priest (themselves) and the altar

4)      Atonements for the people

5)      Priestly ministry, for example, to handle offerings and bless people.

6)      Their due to be eaten in a holy place

All these laws have exclusive procedures and forbidden acts that must be observed strictly. The guilty priests would receive punishment according to their own deed.

Punishment to the culpable priests:

Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered profane fire, which was not God’s command. Fire went out from the LORD devoured them.

The privilege of priests:

Being assigned to serve God for generations is a great honor. Aaron, his sons, his generations could enjoy the due (made holy) and eat them in holy place.

Conduct prescribed for priests:

1)      Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink when they go into the tabernacle of meeting lest they die.

2)      Distinguish between holy and unholy.

3)      Distinguish between unclean and clean.

4)      Teach the children of Israel all the statutes given by the LORD.

5)      Eat their due correctly.

Priests have great responsibility and must behave properly. They serve under God to help all people (including themselves) worship HIM faithfully. They must know exactly how to keep the place holy, how to purify the altar, how to handle various kinds of offerings, what must be burnt and where, what should be eaten and where. They themselves are sinners and need atonements as well, no exemption from disobeying God.

Nowadays, we go to the church to meet priests and receive their service. They still need to observe a lot of specific laws and attend to every detail with precision, to keep the self, the place, all the utensils holy, not according to their own will but God’s.

Priests are appointed servants of God to help us worship HIM. They must have a good reputation for keeping God’s rules sternly. We ought to heed their exhortation and keep walking in God’s way accordingly.

Let’s pray to God:

Our glorious Father, thanks for appointing priests to help us know You and consolidate our faith. Bless the priests to do their duties devotedly and support them at the difficult moments. Amen.

Offerings and Atonements to God

Children of Israel had different offerings to God. What can we offer now?

In Leviticus 1 – 7, God gave HIS people detailed instructions on how to worship HIM. Different offerings help people do thanksgiving and atonements properly. Nowadays, the practices change but the essence remains the same.

Offerings in the past:

1)      The burnt offering

2)      The grain offering

3)      The peace offering

4)      The sin offering

5)      The trespass offering

6)      Offerings with restitution

Each offering had its own laws to be observed firmly by the priest and the non-priest, for example, what to offer, how to prepare it, the location, the procedures and the forbidden acts. Failure to exactitude offends God and that person would be punished.

What time or circumstance to offer which offering? God proclaimed the commands that could direct people to cleanse themselves, an act of loving-kindness to free them from being guilty and so they could continue walking in HIS way uprightly.

Characteristics of the offerings:

1)      Criteria and steps are given by God for people’s strict observance.

2)      One’s free will is required.

3)      The sacrifice must be free from blemish.

4)      Atonements help people please the LORD and reconcile with HIM.

5)      The priest plays an important role in handling the offerings, which are made holy, to make atonement for people.

6)      Forgiveness is granted to the sinners after the priest made atonement for them.

People are still guilty for their unintentional sin and need forgiveness through proper atonement. In the modern days, we are not required to perform the same steps but this doesn’t exempt us from atonements that are necessary for our reconciliation with the LORD.

Nowadays, we still need to keep God’s commandments exactly. Don’t let lousy execution happen to hinder us from being saved by Jesus Christ. The Bible and the church tell us what we should do to worship God effectively. We can make offerings to the LORD by the following means.

1)      Pray to God always.

2)      Read the Bible daily.

3)      Devote time to meditate on God’s word.

4)      Have Reconciliation of Individual Penitents at least once a year. Do it in a monthly basis will be more desirable.

5)      Attend Sunday mass. It is highly recommended attending the weekday ones as well.

6)      Have communion.

7)      Donate money to support the living of the priest and the operation of the church, the poor and the needy.

8)      Join in a group of the church to increase the opportunity of serving God.

9)      Do volunteer work.

10)  Offer almsgiving.

The aforementioned list does not cover all the offerings we can submit to God. Look for more opportunities and devote our time, money and other resources to offer thanksgiving and atonement to God, and reconcile with HIM.

Let’s pray to God:

Heavenly Father, thanks for Your forever love to us. Please give us the wisdom to understand the importance of offerings and atonements, and do them wholeheartedly and exactly according to Your commands. Amen.