Memorial of Saint Alfonsus Ligouri, Bishop and Doctor of
the Church
(Leviticus
23:1.4-11.15-16.27.34b-37; Matthew 13:54-58)
Today’s
first reading from the Book of Leviticus seems arcane. “Why do Christians want to know about Jewish
feast days?” some will ask. They are important
not only because Christianity grew out of Judaism but also because their
meanings are echoed in the New Testament.
The following feasts are mentioned in the reading.
There are
many references to Passover in the New Testament. Most importantly, Jesus instituted
the Eucharist on Passover, just before his crucifixion. The
New Testament does not directly mention the Feast of Unleavened Bread. However, St. Paul gives reference to it when
he tells the Corinthians to throw out the leaven. Leaven, he says, “puffs up” when Christians
should be humble. The Day of Atonement,
when Jews offered sacrifice to God for their sins, has been reworked by
Christians into Good Friday when Christ died on the cross to forgive the sins
of all. The Feast of Weeks (or Booths, in
Hebrew Shavuot) corresponds to the Christian Pentecost. It was originally celebrated as the
anniversary of God’s giving the Law to the Israelites. However, in time it became a harvest festival.
Christians
must appreciate the Old Testament and its feasts to understand Jesus Christ
fully. He was born, lived and died as a
faithful Jew. Knowing about Judaism will
reveal deeper levels of meaning of our faith as well as promote better
relations with contemporary Jewish cousins.
