Atonement

ATONEMENT

A devotional about seeking reconnection with God after we have strayed away from God through atonement.

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!  23  Fetch the fattened calf and slaughter it. We must celebrate with feasting  24  because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.  —Luke 15:22-24—

THOUGHT:

From September 15 at sundown to September 16 at sundown, the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur is honored. This holy holiday is the most solemn religious fast of the Jewish year. It is also called The Day of Atonement. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. 

This seems to be a fitting time of year to celebrate and honor such a redeeming holiday. As Autumn begins, the leaves start to change color, fall off the trees, and begin the long Winter of hidden change before blossoming into a new and fresh Spring. (Of course, for those of us in the Southern states, these changes aren’t quite as pronounced). Yet, the symbolism is still etched, if not in the actual weather, then in our minds and hearts. The trees representing us, shedding our sins and regrets, taking time to reflect and pray, and then to begin again.

Although Christianity does not celebrate Yom Kippur itself, we must remember that Jesus was a Jew and likely honored the day. The oral history denotes that it began after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. When Moses descended the mountain with the Ten Commandments, he realized that the Israelites had already broken one of the Commandments by making an idol, a golden calf. He reascended the mountain, prayed to God, and ultimately, the Israelites were forgiven. When they sinned by making an idol, they were essentially “broken away” from God. Their sin separated them from their Creator. God cannot sin nor tolerate it. Whenever we sin, the same thing happens – we are separated from God. The sin creates TWO separate entities.

Yet, the word ATONEMENT can be indicative of a different state – “AT” – “ONE” – “MENT”. When God created us, we came from Him, part of Him, at-one-with-him. Then sin interrupts that union and a chasm forms between our Father God and ourselves. It is with the act of asking for His Forgiveness that we are able to connect again and build a bridge over the chasm. We reach out in sorrow and humility, arms outstretched, hoping to be received into His Heart. We realize we have no need to fear though. Much like the Prodigal Son, our Father, our Abba, already sees us coming down the road. He has no desire to be separated from us. He longs for our confession. Then, with the advent of our raw and honest pleading, the AT-ONE-MENT is again alive and thriving. Our Father’s arms are around us. Our Creator once more celebrates our relationship. We are one entity, together, breathing and living in the vibrant and creative relationship He intended.
The Good News is that we don’t have to wait for an annual Day of Atonement. As Christians, each and every moment creates an opportunity to be a part of our relationship with God. Jesus’ death on the cross eliminated the need to live apart from God. His blood washed away the need for a specific day of mourning our sins. It cleared the way for a moment-by-moment relationship with Jesus Christ, our living God. We can be “AT-ONE” with God whenever we truly repent and ask for His forgiveness. He answers our repentance with a hopeful and safe embrace. Our Autumn of sin is replenished and renewed into the Springtime of Grace and Forgiveness.

PRAYER:

Abba, Abba, thank you for your love and grace. Help me to recognize my sins and quickly and continually repent of those sins. Embrace me, hold me, bring me back to you. Abba, love me with your unending Grace. See me, come to me, hug me, love me. I cannot bear to be without You. Receive me Father, Creator, Abba. I love you.

Cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of the spring, a time of renewal, and the fleeting nature of life.
Learn more about Cherry Blossoms from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival blog post.