As the sun sets on the evening of October 2, a profound moment begins to unfold. It’s Rosh Hashanah, the Hebrew New Year, which beckons us to pause, reflect, and renew our spirits. In Israel, as the air fills with the sound of the shofar—the ram’s horn calling us to attention—people greet one another with a most critical, heartfelt blessing: “May your name be written in the Book of Life” How Beautiful!
Unlike our typical New Year’s wishes, which often focus on parties and resolutions, this ancient greeting invites us into a sacred space. It reminds us that this time is not just about new beginnings; it’s about new heartbeats, intentions, and opportunities to align our lives with something more significant—God’s Word.
In Leviticus 23, God lays out His appointed feasts, each rich with meaning and purpose. They serve as divine appointments for His people to gather, remember, and celebrate their relationship with Him. Rosh Hashanah, the Head of the Year, invites us to reflect on the past and to dream about the future. It’s a gentle nudge from the Creator, urging us to take stock of our lives, seek forgiveness, and extend grace to those around us.
These feasts, rich with symbolic and prophetic significance, are properly called the feasts of the LORD.
Have I drawn closer to God? Have I read the scriptures daily? What have I learned from the past year?
As we enter this sacred period known as the Ten Days of Awe, we are called to self-examination. It’s a time to ask ourselves the hard questions:
As the shofar’s blast pierces the quiet, so does this season invite us to awaken from our complacency.
Let’s not forget the traditions that accompany these days. We have harvest apples dipped in caramel, but they celebrate with sweet apples dipped in honey, a delicious reminder that we can hope for a sweet year ahead. It’s a small but symbolic reminder of God’s abundant goodness and mercy.
Imagine Jesus our Savior, celebrating these feasts and teaching the feasts with His disciples savoring the traditions that point to His coming. He embodied the very essence of these celebrations—fulfilling the prophecies and bringing a new understanding of what it means to walk in a relationship with God.
Teshuva means “return.” The time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, reminds us to come back to God and come back with our whole hearts. Then, the feast of Sukkot, remembering that this is our temporary (home) dwelling.
So, together, let’s embark on this journey. With open hearts and hopeful spirits, let us seek to be inscribed in the Book of Life—not just for ourselves and our families but for all we encounter. Ultimately, it’s not just about the date on the calendar; it’s about the lives we touch and the sweet Gospels Good News we share.
