Brief
outline of the chapters: Exodus 28 outlines God's instructions to Moses for
making sacred garments for Aaron and his sons as priests. It describes the
ephod, breastplate, robe, turban, and other garments, each adorned with
specific materials and symbols. The ephod and breastplate include precious
stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the
priest’s role in representing the people before God. Also highlighted are the
focus on holiness, beauty, and strict adherence to divine instructions in
serving God.
Exodus 29
details the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons as priests. Exodus 30
provides instructions for making the altar of incense, the basin for washing,
and the sacred anointing oil and incense. Exodus 39 details the completion of
the priestly garments and the Tabernacle as commanded by God.
[This
commentary of St. Gregory chiefly focuses on the spiritual meanings of the
priestly garments outlined in Exodus 28.]
Lessons
from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):
After
receiving instructions through visions of the tabernacle, St. Gregory says that
Moses' soul ascends to greater insights regarding the priesthood's vestments.
These include the tunic, ephod, breast-piece with precious stones, turban,
metal-leaf, breeches, pomegranates, bells, the rational and doctrine (Urim and
Thummim), as well as shoulder-pieces fastened with the patriarchs' names.
St. Gregory of
Nyssa discusses the spiritual significance of the vestments starting with the
blue dye of the tunic. “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.” (v.31).
He notes that previous scholars have interpreted this colour as representing
air or the universe, as seen in Wisdom 18:24- “For upon his long robe the whole
world was depicted”).
Expounding on
the above verse, St. Gregory interprets that an individual aspiring to be a
priest before God must also offer his own body upon the altar and become a
sacrifice, not through death, but by being a living sacrifice and performing
rational service [“…to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1)]. The
priest should avoid a “heavy and fleshy” life, instead living purely and
lightly, akin to the thinness of a spider web thread. By living a pure life,
one becomes spiritually light and airy, ready to ascend to God when called,
rather than being weighed down by earthly concerns.
Exodus 28: 33,
34 says- “On its lower hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and
crimson yarns, all around the lower hem, with bells of gold between them all
around a golden bell and a pomegranate alternating all around the lower hem of
the robe.”
According to
St. Gregory, the golden bells alternating with the pomegranates represent good
works. They denote two pursuits through which virtue is acquired: faith towards
the divine and conscience towards life. St. Paul mentions these elements in
Timothy's garment, advising him to have faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy
1:19).
St. Gregory
compares a virtuous life to a pomegranate fruit. While the outside of a
pomegranate is hard and sour, the inside is sweet and beautifully ordered.
Similarly, a virtuous life might seem austere on the outside, but it is full of
good hopes and sweetness once it matures. He relates this to the words of St.
Paul - “Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the
time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have
been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11), indicating that despite an unpleasant
exterior, there is sweetness and nourishment within the ‘pomegranate life’. [Commentary
on the priestly vestments to be continued in tomorrow’s posting]
Questions
for Personal Reflection:
1) As we
commemorate the healing of the crippled woman on the fifth Sunday of the Great
Lent, reflect on the attitude of the synagogue leader. Jesus confronted his
hypocrisy. Whether I am a religious leader or a layman, does my actions align
with the true spirit of my faith? Am I publicly siding with falsehood (or
‘going with the flow’) to avoid any conflict with the faith community?
2) How can I
clothe myself in spiritual “garments” that reflect dignity and honour in my
daily life? In what ways can I ensure that my actions and words are worthy of
my calling as a follower of Christ? How can I ensure that my life reflects the
sweetness and order of a pomegranate’s fruit, or I live the “pomegranate life”?
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 90-92. HarperCollins Spiritual Classics series. (Original translation published by Paulist Press, 1978).
Disclaimer: The content presented here is a
paraphrased summary based on my reading and understanding of the book cited
above and is intended solely for educational and devotional purposes during
Lent. They are not intended to replace the original work or represent the views
of the author or publisher. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original
book for a comprehensive understanding.
No comments:
Post a Comment