OLD TESTAMENT SABBATH LAW AT CHRISTMAS TIME

The Gleaners (Julien Dupré, 1880)

9. "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not be so thorough that you reap the field to its very edge, nor shall you glean the stray ears of grain.  10.  Likewise, you shall not pick your vineyard bare, nor gather up the grapes that have fallen. These things you shall leave for the poor and the alien. I, the LORD, am your God."  

(Leviticus, chapter 19, verses 9 - 10)

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I throw this out there for two reasons that really get to me and a third that I really feel as much as I think.  It is a full court press kind reality.  The law of God is one that really grabs me because it is all contained in the Law of the Sabbath.  This is the center of Jewish life.   Has been for at least three, if not four millenia now.  It is translated by Jesus into His famous answer to the envoys of St. John the Baptist who ask, "Are you the one who is to come or should we wait for another?"  Jesus looks at them and says,   "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."  (Luke, chapter 7, verses 18 - 23)

That is the law of the Sabbath as Jesus brings it to us.  There's more, but hey, this isn't the seminary.  Yet.

Just about every year at about this time, Belle and I turn into gleaners.  We know exactly where to go to get the cuttings and trimmings from the Christmas tree vendor of our choice.  We go there because he puts out a big wooden box, not too deep. but wide, where all the trimmings are  thrown away.  We help ourselves and fill the trunk of the car with the ones that Belle has carefully chosen and drive away, very content for the blessing that we have found what we need for our Christmas decorating ritual.  It also turns out to be a spiritual outing.  We make jokes, of course, about the little old man and his cute little old Asian companion who come to help themselves of the trimmings that no one else wants.  It is also a reminder of God's law.  Really.  I'm not making this up.  How do you think I came to know the story, and the quote?  I mean, Leviticus? come on!  Who reads that except the Jews?  Well, now you know one Gentile who does and who finds it spiritually nourishing...although I have to confess that I am not a law fanatic...I leave that up to the Pharisees.  It's not stealing, it's biblical socialism, but this is a friendly blog, so we won't go there.

In closing, I present you with a picture of the "Little Old Asian Lady Companion enjoying her gleanings. 

When she reads this, a funeral will follow shortly thereafter.