I bet you thought you had to be JEWISH to observe #RoshHashanah didn't you?

Today is the first day of Rosh Hashanah which began at sundown yesterday. Rosh Hashanah is one of 4 Jewish New Years and is the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days called the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe. These are followed 10 days later with Yom Kippor, the day of atonement. Rosh Hashanah is also called the day of judgment. It is called the head of the year and is considered the new year of the people, animals and contracts.

Not Jewish? But they are good things to know for the rest of us as well as there are many things that take place during Rosh Hashanah that we all could benefit from if we put them into practice.

There is an intense reflection of the past year. It is good to look back sometimes and think about where you've been, what you've done and where it is leading you--we do this when we Correct the mistakes of our past and improve on the successes we had.

It is a time to ask for forgiveness from those we may have harmed or offended the past year. It does us all good to clear the air sometimes and make right what is wrong.

It is a time for putting our sins behind us. Christians do that each day as we pray to Jesus. In Jewish culture, forgiveness of sins is symbolized as they take bread and break it into pieces and throw it into water and watch is float away.

 Rosh Hashana is a time of love and prayer. It is also a time of sweetness that is symbolized by eating apples and honey.

And another ritual during this time is the blowing of the shofar.  It is a spiritual wake up call to the nation of Israel.  For this reason, Rosh Hashanah is also known as the feast of trumpets.

Many believe that The rapture of the Christian church will take place during this time, partly because of the scripture verse in 1 Thessalonians 4 :13-18  which says

 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

And remember to be careful for your soul and the souls of your loved ones by understanding that a last trumpet will sound one day and we all need to be ready to meet our Savior at any moment.

 

Chris E Giles, Chaplain, Murrells Inlet @AgapeSenior