Count-Off to Pentecost

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

We are all on a journey with our Creator. Our journeys are full of purpose and design. And, like all travelers, we make constant choices to move ahead, stand still, drift, or fall backwards. The seed of redemption planted in us at Passover has forty-nine days to grow and mature until the harvest of Pentecost. These days of counting provide a natural and timely opportunity to consider our path and make goals about our destinations.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Emor (אמור | Say)

Torah: Leviticus 21:1-24:23

Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

Gospel: Luke 11:1-12:59

The Holy One of God

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

There is a direct relationship between the commandments and the person of Messiah, because the commandments are a direct revelation from God. They are a revelation of godliness. To see a commandment performed is to see something of God.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Kedoshim (קדושים | Holy)

Torah: Leviticus 19:1-20:27

Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15

Gospel: John 7:53-10:21

Day of Passover

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

In his first descent from Mount Sinai, Moses carried the tablets of the Torah, which he broke when he saw the golden calf. His descent was purposeful. He knew of the sin of Israel merited the wrath of God. Moses came down to call them to repentance and to avert disaster. Like Messiah, he was on an urgent mission to save Israel and to restore the covenant. In his ascent, he carried new stone tablets that God instructed him to chisel out. When he descended the second time, he carried the new stone tablets of the Torah in glory. One might say the same of Messiah in His first coming, His ascension and return.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Chol HaMo'ed Pesach (חול המועד פסח | Intermediate Day of Passover)

Torah: Exodus 33:12-34:26

Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Day of Atonement

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

The Day of Atonement reminds us that salvation and relationship with God cannot be attained by being good enough or scoring points with God. You cannot keep the Torah well enough.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Acharei Mot (אחרי מות | After the death)

Torah: Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Haftarah: Ezekiel 22:1-19

Gospel: John 7:1-52

A special portion for Shabbat HaGadol replaces the regular reading this Shabbat!

Shabbat HaGadol (שבת הגדול | The Great Sabbath)

Haftarah: Malachi 3:4-24

Levitical Purification

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi met Elijah standing by the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. He asked...Elijah, "When will the Messiah come?" "Go and ask him," Elijah replied. "Where is he seated?" Rabbi Yehoshua asked. "At the entrance to the city of Rome," Elijah answered. "How will I recognize him?" Rabbi Yehoshua asked. Elijah replied, "He is sitting among the poor lepers, all of them bandaging their wounds..." (b.Sanhedrin 98a)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Metzora (מצורע | Leper)

Torah: Leviticus 14:1-15:33

Haftarah: 2 Kings 7:3-20

Gospel: Luke 9:51-10:42

Passover is coming: April 15