The long descriptions of festivals in Leviticus are not very interesting to read, especially since we no longer observe them. But they teach us something: to the Israelites, every moment of life was sacred and worthy of celebration, especially when it included thanksgiving to God. They had a sense of the sacredness of time and the cycles of life. Perhaps we could regain a bit of this reverence and practise celebration for the ordinary things in our everyday lives.

The people in the hometown of Jesus did not accept or respect him. Sometimes we find it difficult to take family and friends seriously about the deeper things in life. We know them too well; we know their flaws and we have seen them at their weaker and unguarded moments. Maybe we are the ones that are not taken seriously! It is important to listen to the message rather than the messenger. Look beyond outward appearances and learn to listen with the heart. God uses ordinary people, even very imperfect ones, to speak to us and teach us from time to time. Let us be humble and open enough to learn from anyone or anything. Life itself and our created world are great teachers. We all have something to share with others and something to receive.