ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tokonaki ‘Epeleli 15, 2023

Not a Holy BBQ

NA‘E ‘IKAI KO HA FAI‘ANGA TUNU

LEVITICUS 1:3-4

"IF HIS OFFERING IS A BURNT OFFERING FROM THE HERD, HE SHALL OFFER A MALE WITHOUT BLEMISH. HE SHALL BRING IT TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE TENT OF MEETING, THAT HE MAY BE ACCEPTED BEFORE THE LORD. HE SHALL LAY HIS HAND ON THE HEAD OF THE BURNT OFFERING, AND IT SHALL BE ACCEPTED FOR HIM TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIM."

LEVITIKO 1:3-4

Kapau ko e feilaulau-mōifua ‘a ‘ene kōpano, ko ha pulu, te ne ‘atu ha manu tangata ‘oku ‘ikai hano mele! te ne ‘atu ia ‘i he matapā ‘o e Tēniti Fe‘iloaki‘anga, ke hōifua ai ‘a e finangalo ‘o e ‘Eiki. 4Pea te ne hilifaki hono nima ki he ‘ulu ‘o e feilaulau; pea ‘e tali ia koe‘uhi ko e tangata, ko e fakalelei ma‘ana.

The altar was not a BBQ grill. Whatever meat was placed atop it was not cooked to medium rare or well done but to smoke and ashes. The primary and foundational sacrifice for Israel is the olah ("[whole] burnt offering"). Formed from the verb alah ("to go up"), the olah was so named because - except for the hide - it went up entirely in smoke to God. Offered both for the nation and by individuals, this olah engendered acceptance before God. And not just acceptance, but all that entailed: purification, forgiveness, blessing, sanctification.

Israel received the Lord's gifts wrapped in the elements of creation. In Leviticus, it's the blood and flesh of an animal. Elsewhere it's manna or water. God's ways remain the same today, for in baptism's water as well as the Lord's Supper's bread and wine, he gives the purification, forgiveness, blessing, and sanctification we need, all acquired for us by the Messiah's offering of himself on the Roman altar of crucifixion.

Blessed are you, O Lord, King of the universe, who gives us gifts we can taste, see, and touch.