LEVITICUS
CHAPTER
10
1. Now Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his censer, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered unholy fire before the LORD, such as he had not commanded them. 2. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 1 and 2)
Oh God it is much to Your pleasure as a parent to see Your children obey You, however it grieves You more when those same children the world in general show a lack of respect and disobedience to You and Your holy name either directly or even non directly. I pray for Your mercy because at times I also merit the same penalty due to my acts of disobedience to Your holy name.
3.Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD meant when he said, "Through those who are near me I will show myself holy, and before all the people I will be glorified."And Aaron was silent.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 3)
On reflecting on this verse we can tap the great significance of this verse. As a Church You my God will be glorified through us. This is how much we mean to You my father. May we all reflect Your glory through ourselves and also to others. At times as in the case of Aaron, who was silenced by Your powerful manifestation, and may not have understood why Nadab and Abihu had to die, we still have to keep on believing. We are Your mirrors witnesses on earth therefore, our way of life, our values thoughts and beliefs are to reflect the presence of God in our lives. The more we become in love with You oh God by means of our relationship, the more polished and clean our mirrors shall be and the greater will be our reflection of You.
4. Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come forward, and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp."5. They came forward and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had ordered.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 4 to 5)
The bodies of those who had been slain due to their disobedience were dragged by their tunics to a place outside the camp. They treated them as if they would be contaminated by an illness or plague if they came into direct contact with them. In truth sin is also contagious and is therefore to be treated in the same manner.When we commit sin it is as if we have become an outsider to You and have been ousted out of Your body on earth that is the Church. Therefore likewise we seek confession of our sins, so that we can be reunited again with You in the Church as one body. Those who have for some reason chose to live a life that is beyond what You commanded us to live have chosen to live a life outside the camp and outside of the Church. However the opportunity to turn back is always open. The door of the camp remains always available for us who wish to turn back to You oh God.
6. And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,"Do not dishevel your hair, and do not tear your vestments, or you will die and wrath will strike all the congregation; but your kindred, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning that the LORD has sent.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 6)
On reflecting oh God I understand the reason why You did not permit Aaron or his sons to lose their composure and tear their vestments. It would not be a respectful act to damage consecrated vestments or anything that is used in the sacrificial offering. These vestments are special because like the user they have been consecrated to be used in the special service of God. Therefore they come in contact with Your Sanctity and it is not right to corrupt that which is sacred.
7. You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting or you will die; for the anointing oil of the LORD is on you." And they did as Moses had ordered.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 7)
God you did not want Aaron to seek comfort in mourning in the same way that the other people did. You knew what Aaron and his sons may have been feeling on having witnessed such an unusual and sudden death, however as people consecrated to God our comfort is to be found in You oh God and not in others. You are my counselor, You are my refuge! In You do I find the nourishment and fulfillment of my soul and not in the company of others
8. And the LORD spoke to Aaron: 9. Drink no wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons, when you enter the tent of meeting, that you may not die; it is a statute forever throughout your generations.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 8 to 9)
We can only imagine the situation if during mass on Sunday the priest would appear in a state of drunkenness stinking of whisky, vodka or other strong liqueur . This is the reason why God ordered Aaron and his sons to abstain from such alcoholic drinks. Otherwise the priest would set a bad example on us and even would not reflect the presence of God in him. He would have a bad type of spirit running in his veins and would proclaim gibberish theology and scripture instead of the Word of God.
10. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean; 11. and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 10 to 11)
As followers and believers in You oh God my father we also are in need of reordering our priorities and values that highly determine our decision making. We are to pray so that we are given the gift of discernment so that in all situations whether simple or complex we will be able to discern if that choice or situation is according to Your will or not. As a point of reference we have Your Good News meaning all the bible as a point of reference as guidelines for our life.
12. Moses spoke to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: Take the grain offering that is left from the LORD's offering by fire, and eat it unleavened beside the altar; for it is most holy: 13. you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your son's due, from the offerings by fire to the LORD; for so I am commanded. 14. But the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is raised, you and your sons and daughters as well may eat in any clean place; for they have been assigned to you and your children from the sacrifices of the offerings of well-being of the people of Israel. 15. The thigh that is raised and the breast that is elevated they shall bring, together with the offerings by fire of the fat, to raise for an elevation offering before the LORD; they are to be your due and that of your children forever, as the LORD has commanded.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 12 to 15)
Such verses from the tenth chapter of the book of Leviticus highlight interesting and important issues, for us to meditate and reflect on. The first point of God is that of the likeness between what happens in this ritual and what happens during mass in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. During such a celebration the priest consumes his special portion of the sacrifice which is Your body and blood in the consecrated chalice and patena (the golden plate on which you are placed) and then distributes our share as laity for us to consume and nourish our souls with Your body and blood.
The second issue is that the priests of this era were said to have both sons and daughters. If such priests in this early stage of the development of this mini church were able to cope with their duties toward their families and also that of the people what is the reason that prohibits the Roman Catholic Priest from being married and raise a family. In fact such people could be a model for other Christians. Therefore if such a thing was to take place, priests would no longer be accused of knot knowing what is is like to be married, and that studying about marriage and married couples is not enough!
16. Then Moses made inquiry about the goat of the sin offering, and-it had already been burned! He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, and said. 17. "Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? For it is most holy, and God has given it to you that you may remove the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement on their behalf before the LORD. 18. Its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary as I commanded."
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 16 to 18)
From the beginning of the existence of the people of God a replica of our Roman Catholic Church and even maybe other churches, the seeds of disobedience begin to grow and flourish. The evil one starts sowing negative feelings of doubt in our hearts. Aaron had just experienced the death of his two sons. Although he did not verbalise his feelings he was hurt and depressed. Aaron needed the support of Moses and not his condemnation in such morbid circumstances. As a consequence of all that happened to him and his family who had offered their life to the service of God, Aaron felt discouraged. This may be experienced by all of us. We cannot understand why such negative experiences take place in our lives, even though we do our best to walk in Your ways. However the answer is simple. We are living as part-timers or actors on this earth. God has planned our beginning and our end! When we have served our part in the play of life, He calls us back to His side to claim our reward that is His eternal presence. We need not hold it against You oh God, but thank You for the time that You lent us to live on earth.
19. And Aaron spoke to Moses, "See, today they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been agreeable to the LORD? 20. And when Moses heard that, he agreed.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 19 to 20)
At times we may find ourselves in the same situation as Aaron. We may try our hardest to walk in Your ways oh God but negative situations may still happen to us. Oh God, by being Christians You never promised us a bed of roses, that protected us from all negativity, however even the roses have thorns in them. On becoming human You did not spare Yourself of Your feelings of sorrow for the death of Lazzarus, or Your feelings of stress in the garden of Gethsemane. Therefore if You oh God did not spare yourself of such tribulations who are we to complain about death, pain sickness and other tribulations that befall us.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
In Your name oh God I consecrate my life to You my God and my father. I declare that no strong liquor may enter my body that causes me to lose control over myself. Moreover I declare that I will with Your help be more aware of myself and my sins and think more of the spiritual, social, and psychological consequences of my actions. Help me to choose silence over many moments of talking, because the more I talk the greater the chance of my sinning against You and Your Name. May my responses reflect Your presence in me and reflect care and understanding. Amen
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 3)
On reflecting on this verse we can tap the great significance of this verse. As a Church You my God will be glorified through us. This is how much we mean to You my father. May we all reflect Your glory through ourselves and also to others. At times as in the case of Aaron, who was silenced by Your powerful manifestation, and may not have understood why Nadab and Abihu had to die, we still have to keep on believing. We are Your mirrors witnesses on earth therefore, our way of life, our values thoughts and beliefs are to reflect the presence of God in our lives. The more we become in love with You oh God by means of our relationship, the more polished and clean our mirrors shall be and the greater will be our reflection of You.
4. Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come forward, and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp."5. They came forward and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had ordered.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 4 to 5)
The bodies of those who had been slain due to their disobedience were dragged by their tunics to a place outside the camp. They treated them as if they would be contaminated by an illness or plague if they came into direct contact with them. In truth sin is also contagious and is therefore to be treated in the same manner.When we commit sin it is as if we have become an outsider to You and have been ousted out of Your body on earth that is the Church. Therefore likewise we seek confession of our sins, so that we can be reunited again with You in the Church as one body. Those who have for some reason chose to live a life that is beyond what You commanded us to live have chosen to live a life outside the camp and outside of the Church. However the opportunity to turn back is always open. The door of the camp remains always available for us who wish to turn back to You oh God.
6. And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,"Do not dishevel your hair, and do not tear your vestments, or you will die and wrath will strike all the congregation; but your kindred, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning that the LORD has sent.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 6)
On reflecting oh God I understand the reason why You did not permit Aaron or his sons to lose their composure and tear their vestments. It would not be a respectful act to damage consecrated vestments or anything that is used in the sacrificial offering. These vestments are special because like the user they have been consecrated to be used in the special service of God. Therefore they come in contact with Your Sanctity and it is not right to corrupt that which is sacred.
7. You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting or you will die; for the anointing oil of the LORD is on you." And they did as Moses had ordered.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 7)
God you did not want Aaron to seek comfort in mourning in the same way that the other people did. You knew what Aaron and his sons may have been feeling on having witnessed such an unusual and sudden death, however as people consecrated to God our comfort is to be found in You oh God and not in others. You are my counselor, You are my refuge! In You do I find the nourishment and fulfillment of my soul and not in the company of others
8. And the LORD spoke to Aaron: 9. Drink no wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons, when you enter the tent of meeting, that you may not die; it is a statute forever throughout your generations.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verse 8 to 9)
We can only imagine the situation if during mass on Sunday the priest would appear in a state of drunkenness stinking of whisky, vodka or other strong liqueur . This is the reason why God ordered Aaron and his sons to abstain from such alcoholic drinks. Otherwise the priest would set a bad example on us and even would not reflect the presence of God in him. He would have a bad type of spirit running in his veins and would proclaim gibberish theology and scripture instead of the Word of God.
10. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean; 11. and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 10 to 11)
As followers and believers in You oh God my father we also are in need of reordering our priorities and values that highly determine our decision making. We are to pray so that we are given the gift of discernment so that in all situations whether simple or complex we will be able to discern if that choice or situation is according to Your will or not. As a point of reference we have Your Good News meaning all the bible as a point of reference as guidelines for our life.
12. Moses spoke to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: Take the grain offering that is left from the LORD's offering by fire, and eat it unleavened beside the altar; for it is most holy: 13. you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your son's due, from the offerings by fire to the LORD; for so I am commanded. 14. But the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is raised, you and your sons and daughters as well may eat in any clean place; for they have been assigned to you and your children from the sacrifices of the offerings of well-being of the people of Israel. 15. The thigh that is raised and the breast that is elevated they shall bring, together with the offerings by fire of the fat, to raise for an elevation offering before the LORD; they are to be your due and that of your children forever, as the LORD has commanded.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 12 to 15)
Such verses from the tenth chapter of the book of Leviticus highlight interesting and important issues, for us to meditate and reflect on. The first point of God is that of the likeness between what happens in this ritual and what happens during mass in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. During such a celebration the priest consumes his special portion of the sacrifice which is Your body and blood in the consecrated chalice and patena (the golden plate on which you are placed) and then distributes our share as laity for us to consume and nourish our souls with Your body and blood.
The second issue is that the priests of this era were said to have both sons and daughters. If such priests in this early stage of the development of this mini church were able to cope with their duties toward their families and also that of the people what is the reason that prohibits the Roman Catholic Priest from being married and raise a family. In fact such people could be a model for other Christians. Therefore if such a thing was to take place, priests would no longer be accused of knot knowing what is is like to be married, and that studying about marriage and married couples is not enough!
16. Then Moses made inquiry about the goat of the sin offering, and-it had already been burned! He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, and said. 17. "Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? For it is most holy, and God has given it to you that you may remove the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement on their behalf before the LORD. 18. Its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary as I commanded."
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 16 to 18)
From the beginning of the existence of the people of God a replica of our Roman Catholic Church and even maybe other churches, the seeds of disobedience begin to grow and flourish. The evil one starts sowing negative feelings of doubt in our hearts. Aaron had just experienced the death of his two sons. Although he did not verbalise his feelings he was hurt and depressed. Aaron needed the support of Moses and not his condemnation in such morbid circumstances. As a consequence of all that happened to him and his family who had offered their life to the service of God, Aaron felt discouraged. This may be experienced by all of us. We cannot understand why such negative experiences take place in our lives, even though we do our best to walk in Your ways. However the answer is simple. We are living as part-timers or actors on this earth. God has planned our beginning and our end! When we have served our part in the play of life, He calls us back to His side to claim our reward that is His eternal presence. We need not hold it against You oh God, but thank You for the time that You lent us to live on earth.
19. And Aaron spoke to Moses, "See, today they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been agreeable to the LORD? 20. And when Moses heard that, he agreed.
(Leviticus chapter 10 verses 19 to 20)
At times we may find ourselves in the same situation as Aaron. We may try our hardest to walk in Your ways oh God but negative situations may still happen to us. Oh God, by being Christians You never promised us a bed of roses, that protected us from all negativity, however even the roses have thorns in them. On becoming human You did not spare Yourself of Your feelings of sorrow for the death of Lazzarus, or Your feelings of stress in the garden of Gethsemane. Therefore if You oh God did not spare yourself of such tribulations who are we to complain about death, pain sickness and other tribulations that befall us.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
In Your name oh God I consecrate my life to You my God and my father. I declare that no strong liquor may enter my body that causes me to lose control over myself. Moreover I declare that I will with Your help be more aware of myself and my sins and think more of the spiritual, social, and psychological consequences of my actions. Help me to choose silence over many moments of talking, because the more I talk the greater the chance of my sinning against You and Your Name. May my responses reflect Your presence in me and reflect care and understanding. Amen
