By Yehuda Bachana.
Shalom dear friends,
This existential war is intended to exhaust Israel for two full years already. It might be best pictured with a marathon where a lot of people from all different parts of society take turns in getting up to contribute to the ongoing, dire national effort.
Especially in this world that’s getting more confused and confusing, we thank you for your faithful, ongoing prayers and your love for Israel, and bless you with His fullest of blessings for your lives.
Yom Kippur: As A Community
This week we’ll gather as a community to do Yom Kippur together. We invite you to read the readings we’ll be reading that day:
October 2 (Morning):
Leviticus 16:1-34
Isaiah 57:14-58:14
Hebrews 9:1-28
October 2 (Afternoon):
Leviticus 18:1-30
Jonah 1:1-4:11
Matthew 12:33-42
Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement is the last of the ten Days of Awe which serve as an opportunity to reflect upon our sins of the past year. We remember the King of Kings whom we will stand before at the end of times, and give an account to on all we did and did not do: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
It’s the moments where my shortcomings weren’t the problem, but rather the way I reacted or even acted out as a result of them. By means of my impatience, a short answer, a quick gossip to feel better about myself on a rainy day, or just not lending a hand when my heart told me to reach out.
These Days of Awe emphasize our sins, as well as our need and the relevance of Messiah Yeshua’s sacrifice. This makes Yom Kippur extra humbling for us as believers, realizing that He gave His life to grant us ours. As human beings our ego sometimes causes us to get bloated a tad too easily by creating a mask that makes us ‘look better’ (than the real way we struggle back at home). In public, we might smile and show we’ve ‘got it all together’ and hide our struggles. But let’s not forget that we’re called to function as a community, and “Carry one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). We’re not meant to walk alone.
Yom Kippur is at our doorstep and in today’s short time of reflection, beyond the long and daunting list of sins that are known and unknown to us, I aim to look ahead, at how I hope to approach this coming year. It’s time to look in the mirror and face where the mask(s) should come off. To be honest and voice our shortcomings to our Heavenly Father and invite Him in to fill in at times when we fall. From this honest and bit less bloated look on life, the next thing is to step out and share life just a bit more with those around us and pray for each other, in order to “encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Knowing that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) We’re all in need of Messiah, as well as of a loving community of brothers and sisters who are walking this journey alongside us, each at their own pace and phase in life.
This Yom Kippur, we stand before the King. Not as individuals, but as a group. We look around and see our brothers and sisters, and remember we’re all in need of the sacrifice of the Messiah. We don’t walk this journey alone, but rather side-by-side, and by His grace, we will walk yet another year in the light of His mercy and the light of the Messiah.