Links for today’s readings:
Read: Numbers 9 Listen: (3:20) Read: James 4 Listen: (2:25)
Links for this weekend’s readings:
Read: Numbers 10 Listen: (4:11) Read: James 5 Listen: (3:01)
Read: Numbers 11 Listen: (5:22) Read: Galatians 1 Listen: (3:05)
Scripture Focus: Numbers 9.4-11
4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. 6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” 8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.” 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, 11 but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
Reflection: Second Passover
By John Tillman
“We’ve had one Passover. But what about second Passover?”
Lord of the Rings jokes aside, Numbers 9 tells us about the second Passover Israel celebrated in the desert and a “second chance” Passover for those unable to celebrate.
The first Passover in the desert went perfectly. This time, there were problems. A group of people was ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. Being ceremonially unclean was not sinful. The most likely cause was that a relative had died, and they buried them. However, to celebrate Passover, one had to be ceremonially clean.
The people brought the problem to Moses. Moses took the problem to God. God’s solution was a “second chance” holiday.
Many of us have probably had “second chance” holidays. When we can’t be with family on the exact day of Christmas, an anniversary, or a birthday, we commonly celebrate a second time when the family can see one another. We’ll celebrate a “birthday week” or even a “birthday month.” God instituted a “Second Passover.” This was a delayed celebration, one month past the original date, for those traveling too far away or those ceremonially unclean and unable to celebrate.
We don’t have a cultural concept similar to being ceremonially unclean because of outer things. No one would bar you from Easter services for having buried your family member. In fact, we’d be likely to encourage you more than anyone else to be there.
However, our inner lives often make us feel unable or unworthy to celebrate or participate in worship as expected. Our feelings of “uncleanness” are related to our inner emotional state. We don’t feel happy, blessed, or peaceful, so we shut down and hope no one notices.
When you feel like you are in the desert, unclean, unhappy, unable to connect to worship, God’s word, or the Holy Spirit, remember these things:
Do not call unclean what God calls clean. (Acts 10.14-16) Your emotions, whether caused by outer things, like a financial loss or physical trauma, or inner things, like depression or anxiety, do not make you unclean in God’s eyes.
Take a second chance to celebrate when you can. When healing, cleansing, or recovering takes time, there is grace for you. Celebrate when you recover. Worship on your way to healing and when injuries are behind you, leap for joy.
Our God is a merciful, problem-solving God. He’ll be there for you at your “Second Passover.”
Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “In truth I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” — John 3.3
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: Reaching Untouchables
She is often called the “woman with an issue of blood,” yet might be more accurately named the “woman with an issue of faith.”
Read more: Testify to Ultimate Healing
Christ is the bird that dies in our place. We are the living bird, baptized into water and Christ’s blood and then set free.