Day 198: Yom Kippur

 DAY 198

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Twenty-nine    Monday 28 September 2020

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement

“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work – whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you – because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.” - Leviticus 16:29-30.

Today begins the marking of Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement, in the calendar of Judaism the year 5781, the highest of all High Holy Days. ‘Yom’ is the Hebrew word for ‘day,’ and ‘kippur’ comes from a word that has to do with cleansing or atoning, a day of importance for observant Jews and many secular Jews as well. Traditionally it requires that in order to know atonement for one’s sins one must engage in prayer, repentance, fasting and giving to charity. While looking  back to the Second Temple in Jerusalem, destroyed in 70 AD, temple sacrifices are remembered but not repeated.

Atonement – while its origin is in Latin, it is most often remembered by its parts: at+one+ment, a contraction from the 16^th century having to do with making reparations or to reconcile, or to unite. Atonement is that which makes possible the uniting of God and fallen humanity. To atone for sin is to pay for sin in such a way that reconciliation then becomes possible.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews, written to Jewish believers, puts it this way: “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one

sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are to be made holy.” For Jews the Day of Atonement is repetitive; for Christians it is a done deal, a comforting thought during this time of a pandemic.

Reflective question: For what sins have you been trying to atone? Is it working?

Reflective Scripture: Read/pray Psalm 51:1-17.

Reflective hymn: 

“Rock of Ages’ – Augustus Toplady (1740-1788)

Not the labors of my hands, can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.