by Fr. Dmitri, New Zealand

Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement

Saturday 3 October 2009 ( 23 Thout; 23 Tute)

You fill me with joy in your presence, with
eternal pleasures at your right hand.
(Psa.16:11)

Teach your children this lesson: the rewards of evil
are temporary; the rewards of goodliness are eternal.
(Cyprian of Carthage)

The Christian should not let the sun set on an angry
fit of a brother, lest night separate both from each other.
(Basil the Great)

But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You
are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, Do not delay.
(Psa.69:5)

What good is collected wealth to me, when my righteousness is gone.
(S.Augustine)

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
(Luke 19:10)

Obedience is a total renunciation of our own life, and it shows
up clearly in the way we act.
(John Climacus)

For you are Truly, the pride of our race, and the intercessor, of our soul.
(The Holy Psalmody)

A vainglorious man is a believer- and an idolater.
(John Climacus)

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven,
for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
(Luke 7:47)

REFLECTION:

O God, thank you for being available to us.
Come into our minds, our hearts and our
souls, until we are flooded with your presence.
Help us feel the warmth of your love today.
Oh how we need it.
(R.Schuller)

HOMILY:

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (YOM KIPPUR)
Sept.28, 2009

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ' Also the tenth day of this
seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a
convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer
an offering made by fire to the Lord.'
(Lev.23:26-27)

Yom Kippur brings to a close the period of repentance begun on Rosh Hashanah.

It is a foreshadowing of the Messiah who would come to make atonement for our
sins. Many believe that Isaiah 53 speaks of this suffering Savior, when it says:

'It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His
soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the
pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.' (v.10)

Yom Kippur - Looking Ahead:

The Day of Atonement, is a day to be mindful of our sin and the offering that was
made on our behalf. It is a day to be mindful-and grateful- for the grace afforded
through the perfect, everlasting sacrifice, Messiah Jesus, it also points to the future.

Scripture tells us that in the last days there will be a great and awesome Day of
the Lord that will reveal the judgement that awaits those who have not taken
advantage of the Atonement of God. Here what the Scriptures say:

The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is
the One who executes His word. For the Day of the Lord is great and very
terrible; who can endure it? The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon
into blood, before the coming of the Great and awesome day of the Lord.
(Joel 2:11,31)

'Behold the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who
do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up.'
say the Lord of hosts, 'that will leave them neither root or branch.'(Mal.4:1)
(Symbolic of a Nuclear Holocaust)

No one can afford to be 'uncovered' or 'unatoned for' on the final Yom Kippur.
Yet, in fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, there is evidence declaring that God
has not left us without hope or atonement. He has not left us devoid of hope
without sacrifice, or without apprehending His mercy. Through His Atonement
God's Messiah gives us the assurance of salvation.

To Thee be glory and praise, now and ever; unto Ages of Ages.

AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Evening: Psalm 63:11; Gospel Mark 4:21-25.
Morning: Psalm 69:6; Gospel Mark 3:22-27.
Liturgy: Phil.1:1-11; 1 John 2:7-11; Acts 19:11-17;
Psalm 15:1011; Gospel Mark 3:28-35