Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, is a Jewish festival held in the fall and one of three Pilgrim Festivals in the Hebrew Bible. In 2022, the first day of Sukkot is October 10. This celebration goes on for seven days in Israel or eight days outside of Israel.
As a Christian senior, it's still possible to learn from this tradition. Though it's not typically practiced by those of the Christian faith, it does tie into Palm Sunday and other celebrations Christians do take part in.
To begin learning from Sukkot, you need to understand the core purpose of the festival, which is to support unity between people, celebrate the harvest and show gratitude for the blessings from God.
To walk "in Christ" is a way of saying you're doing as the Lord once did or as the Lord would want you to do. You're living with recognition of the Messiah in you and building a relationship with the Lord.
In Christian Scripture, there are several times when being "in Christ" is referred to. Everything hails back to Christ dying on the cross for human sin. When Christians accept Jesus's death on their behalf and repent, that's when "God no longer sees our imperfections; he sees the righteousness of his own Son instead." (Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 8:12).
More practically, walking "in Christ" means to thank God for his deliverance. Sukkot specifically celebrates the earth's harvest, so this is a time when all people should celebrate all that the land has had to offer as well as the blessing that came from God himself.
For Jewish people, the festival of Sukkot takes place in booths (or tents). There are specific activities to do and materials to use when celebrating, such as gathering the four species of plants associated with Sukkot: citron, a palm branch, a willow branch and a myrtle. Christians don't do these things, but they can focus on having an "attitude of gratitude" to better reflect their respect not only for the Lord but also for the land they've harvested from.
During Sukkot, God was said to live with, or "tabernacle" with his people. While many practicing Christians recognize that God does walk with them, you may not reflect on this often. Take time during the Sukkot to remember that God created the Universe, and he chose to walk on the earth with his chosen people through Jesus.
Now knowing the basis of Sukkot and what it represents, there are several ways you can celebrate Sukkot as a Christian. Certain traditions are simple to do yourself at home or with a group.
Recognizing that God walks with you and supports you as his chosen child is something you can reflect on during Sukkot. Some of the things you can do to rejoice before the Lord include singing praises and going to worship.
While any day is one that you can worship God, remember that the focus of Sukkot is gratefulness. Set aside time to be thankful and to praise the Lord for all you have and have experienced.
One of the key aspects of Sukkot is being with family and friends. Inviting your loved ones to spend time with you is a good way to celebrate the holiday. Join together in a dining hall to share a special meal together, or go out to eat and share the things you're happy about or grateful for. This is a wonderful reason to get together, and it's one you can make a tradition of your own.
Another part of Sukkot is being able to bless others. A good way to celebrate and recognize the lessons from the tradition is to bless others in any way you can. From performing a random act of kindness to offering to serve with a charity for a day, blessing others is a positive way to extend God's generosity to others through you.
At Bethesda Gardens Loveland, gratitude is a feeling that is encouraged, as it has the power to change perceptions and assist in some of the darkest hours. Sukkot reminds everyone that gratitude is necessary, especially in a relationship with God.
Sukkot is a time for giving thanks for the things you have. Throughout the celebration, take the time to reflect on all the Lord has given. You can do this through prayer or by singing. Sharing a meal with family, providing services to others and rejoicing before the Lord are all options during this festival time.
