This Friday is a rare one. Good Friday with its significance and the first night of Passover with its traditional Seder occur almost simultaneously. This is a rarity due to different calenders. The Jewish calender is a lunar one whereas the Gregorian Calender which most of the world uses is based on a calculated 12 month year. Both periodically add a day or days to maintain a rhythm with the solar cycle.
Because the Eastern or Orthodox Church never adopted the Gregorian revision their celebration of Easter will be a week from Sunday.
All of the "People of the Book" should honor Passover. If the Israelites had not fled the bondage of Egypt and wandered in the dessert; Moses would never have received the Ten Commandments or the Torah**.
Without the Exodus there would be no basis for the religions of Jews, Christians, or Muslims. We are all bound by one basic creed; a single Supreme Being. Our interpretation of the Lord may differ and there are even multiple differences in each of the three religions. There is however one basic common denominator; Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Sadly too many of us do not practice that commandment even among different segments of their own professed faith. None of our religions is more righteous or truer than that of one who follows a different path. That should be the lesson of this holy days season.
**The Torah, or Jewish Written Law, consists of the five books of the Hebrew Bible - known more commonly to non-Jews as the "Old Testament" - that were given by G-d to Moses on Mount Sinai and include within them all of the biblical laws of Judaism. The Torah is also known as the Chumash, Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses.
According to Jewish tradition, all of the laws found in the Torah, both written and oral, were given by God to Moses, some of them at Mount Sinai and most of them at the Tabernacle, and all the teachings were later compiled and written down by Moses, which resulted in the Torah we have today.
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Although I am not a practicing Catholic I will from time to time attend mass...seated quietly in the back due to it's significance to me. I do not participate in Communion due to not participating in Confession. It brings me solace hearing the Word of God and feeling the community and love in the room.
ReplyDeleteHowever...all too often those who are most vocal about religion and who is the "MOST HOLY" are often ones to point fingers and try to cast doubt on someones faith.
No one truly knows what's in another's heart.
When the Mayor throws around how much of a "good Christian" she is it makes me laugh. My grandmother who was a DEVOUT Catholic to the Nth degree NEVER once uttered the words that she was a "GOOD CHRISTIAN"...those who are don't say it..those who profess it loudest have something to hide.
I've attended a Seder and was in awe at the meaning of the entire event...I was so thankful my friends allowed me to partake in the Seder.
Doc,
ReplyDeleteA Blessed Holy Passover to you and your family. Your words and explanation are truly on point.
May the G'd of Ibrahim, Esa, and Muhammad continue to guide and comfort you.
Siddeeq W. El-Amin
"Our interpretation of the Lord may differ and there are even multiple differences in each of the three religions. There is however one basic common denominator; Love thy neighbor as thyself."
ReplyDeleteThank you for a thoughtful post on this Holy weekend, Doc.
Rebecca