Israel’s Festivals and the Christian Calendar:

Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be crucified.

(Matthew 26:2)

From Israel’s prescribed three annual festivals (Dt 16), we learn the importance of “times and seasons” (Ecc 3). It’s God’s idea: “Therefore, let us celebrate the festival” (1Cor 5:8).

For us, who live from this side of the Cross, the Passover lamb has become “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’ (Jn 1:29). Easter morning is God’s vindication of Calvary that liberates us from the oppression of death, sin and the devil. On Good Friday, God was having dealings with us; and, I suppose, with himself—something necessary for our redemption. Every Sunday is for us a little Easter Morning when the church gathers to recall, venerate and worship the “Author of life, whom God raised from the dead” (Ac 3:15).

On Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Passover (49 days after Easter), we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh—male and female, old and young. Jesus promised he would send the Holy Spirit to bring comfort and to hold us close to God and to one another. This Pentecost story of the birth of the church marks us to this day (Ac 2): Spirit and Text, Prayer and Fellowship, Baptism and Eucharist. It’s the Holy Spirit who makes our absent Lord present in our hearts and in his church.

After Pentecost Sunday, the rest of year is called “Ordinary Days”—about half the year. Tabernacles, the third and final annual festival, celebrates the latter harvest of grapes (fruits), and commemorates how God tabernacles with his people as they make their way towards the Promise Land. It reminds us of our daily journey through life—our “ordinary days” of work and play, discouragement and hope, misgiving and fidelity. Christ remains with us during our ordinary days. Something like this:       

Spring              -Passover/Easter rejoicing in Christ our Passover Lamb.

            Summer           -Pentecost celebrating the outpouring of the Holy.

            Autumn           -Tabernacles celebrating how our Triune God tabernacles among us

                                      during our “ordinary days”.

Other things can and have been said… like how the grain harvest (bread) celebrated at Pentecost and the grape harvest (wine) celebrated at Tabernacles reminds us of the bread and wine of our Lord’s Table. Or, that the latter harvest of Tabernacles points towards Glory when we gather at “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rv 19:9). There’s always more. I suppose we are free to imagine our own Christian Calendar “bringing out treasures old and new” (Mt 13:52). Just don’t clutter it up.