Posted on 10/12/2014 10:12:10 AM PDT by matthewrobertolson
There are several things to realize about the Old Testament harvests and feasts.
The three harvests (Exodus 23:14-17) parallel the Crucifixion/Resurrection, Pentecost/The Church, and Christ's Return (1 Corinthians 15:23-24).
The seven feasts of these harvests (Leviticus 23) correspond to the Church's liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary, Lent, Triduum, Easter, Ordinary.
The harvest seasons can be classified as such: the first (Spring/Summer) gave grain, the second (Summer) gave grapes, and the third (Summer/Fall) gave olives, figs, and more.
The first, of grains, was smaller in weight -- because the other harvests were water-dense -- but the biggest source of food, as it made up over 50% of the Jewish diet. Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection, even though He was merely one Man, are key in the same way.
Notable is that the second big harvest had grapes, and this was just after the wheat was brought in. Perhaps this is a Eucharist reference, relatable to the Church. At every event, bread and wine were crucial. These are also necessary to every Mass, at which they are confected into our new manna, which, like the old, sustains us until we reach the Promised Land. Christ's Blood redeems and strengthens us. We already have the todah, the ultimate Sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise (CCC #1359-1361), which our rabbinical brethren await!
The third, which has the feast of tabernacles/booths, is important to the Second Coming. This can also be referred to as "the Ingathering". The great festival involved imagery of water and light, which points toward baptism and Christ as the Light of the world (John 1:4-11). At His Return, Christ will reveal Himself to all as their rightful King (Zechariah 14:16), just as He revealed Himself to the Jews as the ultimate Teacher around this important feast (John 7:1-16). He will then perform His own, final Harvest and gather His flock to Himself (Matthew 13:24-30). At this, we will perpetually celebrate all of His wondrous deeds, just as the Israelites celebrated all of the year's harvests (Deuteronomy 16:13-15).
Typology of the olives and figs is important, too. Olive oil was used to burn the lamps continually (Leviticus 24:2), and so the rule of God, at Christ's Return at the olive harvest, will last forever. Jesus calls us to join Him under the security and sweetness of the fig tree and learn from Him (Micah 4:1-5, Zechariah 3:8-10) and be grafted into the eternal olive tree (Psalm 52:8, Romans 11:13-32).
It has been said, and attested to by St. Augustine and others, that "the New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New". How true that is!
—
Follow me, Answering Protestants, and Catholic Analysis on Twitter, Like Answering Protestants and Catholic Analysis on Facebook, Add Answering Protestants and Catholic Analysis to your Circles on Google+, and Subscribe to me or Catholic Analysis on YouTube.
—
Hard to believe the Catholic Church teaches that there will be a re-institution of Old Testament festivals, of which Temple sacrifices were an integral part.
Were any Protestants questioning this?
Exodus 12:14
“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, AS A STATUTE FOREVER, you shall keep it as a feast.
The Catholics are right!
What propaganda ever led you to believe the Jewish festivals were only for a time and a season?
I’m Catholic & I’m wondering the same thing.
Some in the “Hebrew Roots” movement make other extrapolations from this subject. This is more of an informational post with apologetic implications than a purely apologetic post.
Were any Protestants questioning this?
Mr. "Answering Protestants" doesn't seem to have talked to many of them.
Maybe he hears Protestant voices in his head?
LOL!
Gal 4:8-11
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
What’s the question to this answer?
Maybe he hears Protestant voices in his head?
Must be terrible. "Come to Geneva. Come to Wittenburg. Come to Costa Mesa."
Fortunately there are medications these days for voices no one else hears.
Sorry can’t help with the obvious.
Let me be more clear.
What question(s) were being answered by the writer of that passage?
WRONG!!!!! On at least FOUR things. 1) What you are calling the second feat (Pentecost) did NOT yield grapes. It yielded the wheat.
2) Pentecost is in late spring and as the name implies, it is 50 days after Passover. Passover occurs late winter or very early spring. So, Pentecost cannot occur in summer.
3) There is no summer feast. The feast after Pentecost is Tabernacles, or Sukkot.
4) Grapes do not ripen and are not ready for harvest until late summer.
Therefore, your whole argument lacks any credibility.
Yup, the world has been enslaved by holy days like Columbus day and Halloween, and December 25 and easter sun day and July 4th and mother’s day, father’s day, valentines’ day, new years day, etc..
If those days were fulfilled by the Word that became flesh, they would be in the Holy Scriptures, but sadly, those days appear to be more holy to people than the New Moon Days, Sabbaths and Feasts the Father gave His children for appointments with Him. Appointments that pointed to His Son and the Kingdom.
And those New Moon Days, Sabbaths and Feasts, all physically and spiritually fulfilled by the Messiah are after thoughts or have been substituted for other days now considered holy.
His children can get a head start... or can enjoy things like Columbus day-
Which today, according to our Heavenly Father’s calendar, is His third day of His week.
Scripture tells us what He made on His third day... but the English world gives the day to the moon.
Who the Son sets free, is free indeed..
Free to reject the world for Him.
I will not argue with your absurd logic, but your lack of understanding of the book of Galatians is absolutely apparent good luck and God Bless.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.