Let's Make a Festival

Every year we do the same thing. Families gather, grills are heated up, drinks are iced down, badmitton nets are erected and the cole slaw prepared all in anticipation of a festival of freedom. (O yeah, don't forget all of the fireworks that continue through the night!) It's the Fourth of July or Independence Day that we remember how we as a nation were delivered from our enemies and became a free people. It's a highlight of the year and we usually feast together.

That's the feeling and sense of the Feast of Purim. It's not a religious festival per se, rather a national one. It commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from the hand of the evil Haman (boo, hiss) by Queen Esther/Hadassah (Yeah! whistles)and her cousin Mordecai. And no festival is complete without the gathering of family and the making of great feasts.

One unique thing that is done on Purim is the reading of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther), but not just a hearing of it. Everyone gets involved in the story. Whenever the name of Haman is mentioned the crowd hisses and boos, but when Esther is mentioned everyone cheers loudly. It's a way to enjoy and remember an important event in history, the making of a heritage, the preservation of a people.

Many don't understand Purim since it has no religious purpose or God-focus. But we should understand it. It's about a nation of people who want to remember and who are grateful for who they are. It's what Americans should be. It's what Christians should be. We must remember not only what God has done for us, but also we must remember who we are...

...a people, united in Christ; a church with one purpose with a heritage we are proud of. So let's celebrate!

Peace ><>
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