Tuesday, May 5, 2015

You Are Ordained to Wear the Vestments



Selections and Notes from Emor in VaYikra – The Call, Leviticus 21.1-24.23

Talk to the priest or priestess within you
Upon whose head the anointing oil comes down             
You are ordained to wear the vestments

There is a part of us each that is forever pure and holy
That quality in us is “ordained to wear the vestments.”
Be holy for I Yah am holy   Yah, YHVH, God               

When you are suffering a blemish (physically, mentally or emotionally)
Refrain from performing priestly services and make no offerings
Nor accept offerings to God from others - until you are clean again

If you become unclean or blemished, wait until evening
Then bathe in clean water. After sunset you are cleansed again

Whoever brings offerings to God, whether these be vows
Free-will offerings, burnt offerings or sacrifice and peace offerings
Bring only the best, the unblemished as your offerings to God
That you may be accepted and blessed

Always leave a baby animal with its mother for seven days
Do not slaughter the mother and its young on the same day
When possible, don’t kill any animals at all, the babe or the mother

Follow my word, my teachings, my guidance
I am hallowed among the children of Yisra-El
In the community of devotees God is the sacredness in our midst

Proclaim three appointed seasons to be holy convocations
Work six days, the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest  

The first month (Nisan, March-April), the 14th day at dusk
Begins the Passover, the 15th day is the feast of unleavened bread
Seven days eat unleavened bread and bring fire offerings to Yah
Fire offerings - fruits of self-discipline, austerities or sufferings – offered up

Count seven weeks from the 2nd day of Passover
Number 50 days and present new offerings unto Yah, to God

Don’t reap the entire harvest of your land  (your earnings)
Leave the corners of your field for the poor and the stranger
For I am YHVH your God   Charitably share a portion of your income

Have but one law for both the home born and for strangers, I am Yah

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