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Leviticus 22:1-3: Egg Nog and Hot Cross Buns - Profaning the Holy

It is early in October and I noticed that there are two things in the grocery stores that just do not belong there this time of year: egg nog and hot cross buns. We have just finished Canadian Thanksgiving and my one daughter was quite put off to see that there was egg nog available. Egg nog is for Christmas.

This morning I was picking up bread, milk, and produce from the grocery store for The Salvation Army when I noticed that they had hot cross buns in the bread bins. This makes even less sense than eggnog in October! Hot cross buns aren't supposed to come out until Easter.

The reason that these grocery store 'sins' are upsetting is simple. In our Canadian culture and tradition eggnog is associated with Christmas celebrations. It is one of the things that even little children look forward to as a special treat once a year. Even some people who don't particularly like the taste of eggnog enjoy a glass at Christmas time. It is one of the things that sets that season aside and makes it special and, as well, it is one of the best things about eggnog: it is a treat. It is special. This is the same with hot cross buns. If they are available year round they are no longer special and they are no longer loved as before.

This is not entirely dissimilar to Leviticus 22. Leviticus is warning us not about the hazards of profaning hot cross buns, eggnog, and Canadian traditions. Leviticus is warning the priests to accept people's offerings with due respect. Treat their offerings as holy. Accept them in the spirit of love and sacrifice in which they are offered. Do not treat them in a plain old everyday fashion. Respect the people and the traditions and respect the LORD who loves His people.

Today, I encourage us, if there is anyway in our lives that we are diminishing the importance of the sacred or profaning the holy or treating God, people, or society with less respect than they are due let us return to honouring and loving God and our neighbour by treating them with reverence and respect.
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