The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Leviticus 5 Listen: (3:35) Read: Acts 2 Listen: (6:35)

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 5:4-5

4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.

Reflection: Awareness is the Signal

By Erin Newton

Ignorance is bliss—but ignorance doesn’t erase guilt. Leviticus 5 addresses two types of ignorance: doing something wrong unintentionally and doing something wrong through haphazard agreements or careless actions.

The story of Watergate is a well-known historical event about political corruption, named after the hotel where political operatives broke into the opposing party’s headquarters and planted recording machines to eavesdrop on their competition. What is less known is the story of Chuck Colson. Colson was Special Counsel to President Nixon during this time. According to his memoir, when the truth about the Watergate scandal was uncovered, Colson felt the Spirit’s conviction to confess to his participation in some of the illegal actions. His previous cavalier disregard for what was right was abruptly interrupted by awareness. He confessed, was convicted, and spent seven months in prison.

The story shocked the world. Who would admit to such a thing? Especially someone with so much power to get away with it. Who wouldn’t fight back? Yet, when someone does something wrong and confesses (such as Colson’s no contest plea), it is a moment of integrity.

Leviticus 5 highlights the reality that people are creatures of impulse, rash decision-making, and limited knowledge. We are gullible, ignorant, self-centered, distracted, and so easily duped. But such shortcomings are not swept aside. Ignorance is not a valid biblical excuse for error.

Awareness, offering, and making amends in our relationship with God are necessary. It is more than an apology or admitting an error was made. Verse 5 (and our character) hinges on the word “when.”  There is an expectation that awareness will come. How? By knowing truth, seeking wisdom, looking inward, and assessing outward. We are not meant to pursue and guard ignorance.

Plausible deniability is not a virtue God desires.

How do we become aware of our own ignorance? By being present, here and now, with your own life, your relationships and commitments. What are you tied to and invested in? Do you really know that person? That organization? That community? Where have you been and where are you trying to go? Look at your own history and past involvements. Keenly observe the direction you are headed (and with whom).

Where the Spirit convicts, admit errors and make amends.

In each of these areas, awareness is the path to freedom. The difficulty is that awareness demands an action, a correction, a confession.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. — Matthew 5.6 (KJV)

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Jesus, Our Restorer

Jesus not only rebuked Peter, telling him to put his sword back in its place, he put Malchus’s ear back in its place, healing him with a touch.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Leviticus 4 Listen: (5:17) Read: Acts 1 Listen: (3:58)

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 4.1-3; 13-15

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands— 3 “ ‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.

13 “ ‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.

Reflection: Wandering Sin

By John Tillman

“Unintentional” in this text comes from a root word meaning “wandering off,” similar to a sheep or other animal. The described sacrifices are not intended for willful, intentional acts of rebellion. “Wandering” or “unintentional” sins must be dealt with once one becomes aware of them, otherwise, they become “rebellious” sins.

The offerings for sin teach us that sins done by individuals affect all people and sins done by the community affect all individuals. The priest’s sin brings “guilt on all the people.” The community’s sin requires all individuals, represented by “the elders of the community,” to confess responsibility by placing their hands on the sacrifice. Adam’s individual sin affects us collectively. Our forefathers’ individual and communal sins affect us today. Our individual and collective sins affect our neighbors and will affect our children’s children.

Sin is not solely an individual matter, not solely a communal matter, not solely about earthly justice or penalties, and not solely about spiritual victories or theology.

Some sins more drastically affect our lives and others’ lives. These distinctions matter for earthly justice. It matters whether you call someone a fool or whether you murder them. (Matthew 5.21-22) It matters whether you look at someone lustfully or if you sexually violate them. (Matthew 5.27-29)

However, even “smaller” sins of contempt or verbal abuse or lustful eyes are bigger than we think. Your heart and the hearts of any who witness or experience these actions will be hardened and changed for the worse with every instance. The compounding interest of our individual investments in contempt has netted a world with the f-bomb frequently found on political tee-shirts, signs, and stickers. The algorithmically driven feeds of entertainment have learned from our wandering eyes and clicking fingers to normalize porn-adjacent content.

We don’t get to say, “I didn’t intend this” or “I didn’t do that.” (Matthew 23.29-35) We are connected to these sins and must confess them.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal unintentional “wandering” sins to you. Confess the collective sins of people you lead or of people who lead you and bring guilt on all their followers. Confess the unintentional sinful effects of things you have said, done, purchased, acquired, voted for, or condoned.

We have a better sacrifice than a bull and a better priest than Aaron. Lay your hands on him in faith and repentance and rejoice in his forgiveness. Do not allow wandering sins to become rebellious ones.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be clean indeed. — Psalm 51.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Jesus, Our Grain Offering

Jesus is the bread, the grain, of life. He has offered himself for us and to us.

Read more: Jesus, Our Burnt Offering

The head of a family brought a burnt offering…God offered Jesus as a lamb on our behalf, to bring us into his family.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Leviticus 2-3 Listen: (4:43) Read: Luke 24 Listen: (6:16)

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 3.1-5

1 “If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect. 2 You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Reflection: Sacrifices Celebrating Peace

By John Tillman

“Fellowship offering” is translated as “peace offering” in other translations, such as the Revised Standard Version. The word translated “fellowship” is from the same root word that gives us “shalom” or “peace.”

Rather than to make peace with God, like sin or burnt offerings, peace offerings were celebratory. A burnt offering or sin offering was completely burned. With a peace offering, only a representative portion would be burned. The rest, rather than being consumed by the flames, would be consumed in a feast shared among the priests and family. Peace offerings celebrated being at peace with God and one’s community.

Regardless of what some “prophets” or “spiritual advisors” to politicians may say, there is no sacrifice in scripture that indebts God to the worshiper. There is no sacrifice forcing God to bless you, but there are many that celebrate blessings already given.

There were many reasons to give peace or fellowship offerings. (Levicitus 7.11-18)

Peace offerings expressed thankfulness. These offerings were in addition to sin offerings, or other offerings for special occasions. A peace offering could be made on any occasion of thankfulness to God.

Peace offerings completed a vow. Vows of many types might be made for religious reasons. In Acts, Paul joins men in vows at the Temple and pays their expenses for the vows, but we don’t know exactly what the vow involved. (Acts 21.22-26)

Peace offerings included “Freewill Offerings.” These offerings seem to be additional offerings for no other purpose than worship and fellowship.

Jesus made our sin offering himself therefore, in him, we have greater peace and fellowship to celebrate than Israel did. We should give greater “peace offerings.” Make space in your life, finances, and schedule for something like a “peace offering.”

How might you give or sacrifice in ways that celebrate the goodness, peace, and fellowship of God? What vows might you fulfill, or help fulfill, honoring the purposes of God? How might you give time and resources to serve or fund work that celebrates peace?

Whether financially, by labor, or by time, give and make sacrifices that establish or celebrate God’s peace. Give in ways that celebrate good things, bring about promised things, or do good just for the sake of joy and gladness. Give in thanksgiving that you have something from which to give. Give to fulfill avowed purposes of God. Give freely, without compulsion and expecting nothing in return.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

You, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth. — Psalm 86.15

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Priests of Life and Peace

As Christians and priests, may we maintain the new “covenant of life and peace” in Christ’s blood.

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