Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations. – Numbers 9:2-3

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 25, 2018): Numbers 9

Some of our holidays, or holy days, are actually arbitrary in nature. In less than a week, we will celebrate Halloween, or more precisely “All Hallows Eve.” Historically, Halloween is the eve before a Christian Feast that dedicated to the memory of all of the saints and martyrs who have died in days past. Remembering the dead, especially heroes of the faith, is a sacred act, but no sacred command says that this celebration of the saints must happen on November 1. Later in November, the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving, but again while the date is consistent, it is once again fairly arbitrary. After all, Canada celebrates their version of the holiday, complete with Thanksgiving Football games, on the second Monday in October, a month and a half before their southern neighbors. Christmas is on December 25 every year. But, to the surprise of many, Jesus was not born on December 25. We chose the date as a companion holiday to the pagan Winter Solstice celebrations that take place three to four days earlier. Jesus was likely born in mid to late September or early October, although many other dates have been suggested. But the date is not mandated anywhere.

The argument becomes important with the celebration of Lent. The one argument that I hear almost every year from various Protestant believers is that Lent, this period of fasting that precedes Good Friday, is not mandated in the Bible anywhere. And it isn’t, just as a Christmas celebration is not mandated. So, does the fact that the celebration is never commanded make it less important? Maybe. But the most important factor is simply this; Is this a holiday that fits in with my personal preferences?

As far as the Passover was concerned, the date is not arbitrary. The date was set, and the celebration was commanded by the law. Israel was instructed to celebrate Passover at a specific time every year. If anyone questioned the celebration, there were places in scripture that could be pointed to that gave the instructions for the celebration.

But maybe the bigger question is, did the command to celebrate Passover make a difference in the regularity with which the holiday was celebrated? The answer is not really. As much as I hear people question Lent, and occasionally even Christmas because of the arbitrary nature of the date of the celebration, there were long stretches of time when Passover was not celebrated in Israel, even though the celebration was mandated within the law and the rest of scripture. When it comes down to it, we celebrate what is important to us.

Maybe this principle is stressed perfectly by this dialogue from the television situation-comedy “The Conners.” Darlene, played by Sara Gilbert, offers this advice as the game plan for the coming holidays. "I say we follow the Conner tradition -- spend every dime we have on Halloween, then we have nothing to be thankful for, or buy gifts with." What we celebrate tends to follow our wants, desires, and what we think is important. The reality is that Celebration begins inside each of us.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 10