Exodus 5:1 NLT

After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.”

Some years ago a secular Jewish friend of mine attributed the stress and anxiety that for him was a British national characteristic, to a lack of celebrations. We were approaching Christmas and his observation was that this offered the one large annual celebration we had. It lasted for a full week and the majority of people overspent and overindulged. Families often fell out with each other for everyone was trying to squeeze twelve months of partying into one week. No wonder we all emerged somewhat depressed from the event.

He also questioned why it was that this most central of Christian festivals was buried in a secular celebration of gifts, food and drink with little obvious distinction between a Christian and non-Christian experience of the Christmas season? I found this a challenge and questioned him more. His response was that the Jewish calendar was populated with festivals throughout the year. As a secular Jew, he enjoyed celebrating the minor festivals as well as the major festivals such as Yom Kippur. His point was that regular significant celebrations created a healthy rhythm from which anyone might manage the stresses of life well.

I have taken those words seriously for he made a good point. The danger is that while we have a number of bank holidays through the year, they are primarily seen as moments for self-care rather more than carrying any significance beyond a day off work. In St Cuthbert’s Oratory, therefore, we have ensured at least one celebration a month taken from the Christian calendar. They are days we remind ourselves of the foundations for our life and hope as disciples in God’s way as well as an opportunity to share together around a celebratory meal and acknowledge our need for physical as well as spiritual and psychological refreshment. We obviously can’t take days off work, but we can enjoy the anticipation and the evening meal we share together.

QUESTION: What will you include in your Christmas celebrations that will mark the coming of the infant Jesus?

PRAYER: Lord God, thank you that you delight in rightful celebration and joy in life.