Hundreds of years before Jesus came, a prophet named
Zechariah spoke to God’s chosen people. His
teachings are recorded in the Bible today in a book named after him, and they
are considered holy scriptures by most major monotheistic religions. Zechariah is mostly remembered for his prophecy of four horsemen, but his book has so much more to teach us.
In the middle of that book, Zechariah addresses a question of fasting. A fasting ritual had long been established to seek God’s help in dealing with terrible circumstances that had fallen the nation of Judah. The people wanted to know if God wanted them to continue fasting. It was almost as if they were asking impatiently, “Do we need to keep doing this?”
God’s response delivered through Zechariah was pretty clear. He questions why they were fasting in the first place. He recounts how the previous prophets gave them clear instructions and they ignored them. He reminds them that the terrible things that happened to them came as a result of their disobedience.
It is as if God is saying, “I told you to not be evil. I told you to treat others with justice and
kindness. You did not. That is why this has happened to you. I want obedience, not fasting.”
They had gotten so caught up in the religious practice that
they forgot what the religion actually taught.
Over the next few months there will be many religious
celebrations around the world. In the US
in particular we will observe Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Hanukkah. There will be much celebration. Let us not forget why we celebrate.
Christmas reminds us of the birth of Christ through whom we not
only receive forgiveness of sins but are also adopted as the children of God. Hanukkah reminds us of the rededication of
the temple. (Fun fact: the only person
in the Bible ever mentioned to have celebrated Hanukkah is Jesus.) In the US we will celebrate Thanksgiving, a
practice started by puritan Christians and the Wamponoag people to thank God
for His provision.
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas are all great
celebrations and have value. They are
hallowed days with God, but they are hollow days without God.
Ceremonies with the wrong heart are empty. Fasting without obedience is meaningless. Religion without God is pointless.
Hearts matter more than ceremonies.
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