6 Ways Our Holy Celebrations Shape Our Faith

Experience God's Faithful Presence

Have you ever viewed holy celebrations like Advent and Easter, even the weekly Sabbath as gifts from God? We often see view them as important days on our calendars, but don’t really go past the surface to truly grasp their significance, particularly as they to our everyday lives. The great feasts of the Old Testament and holidays of the Christian calendar are appointed celebrations that will draw your attention to the significance of time and point you in fresh ways to God’s faithful presence. These days are important and are also great opportunities to experience eternity in the everyday. Psalm 113:3 says, “From the rising of the sun to its going down, the LORD’s name is to be praised.” The text doesn’t say to give praise on certain days, but every day. When we slow down, we can begin to cherish these holy moments in a whole new way. Here are six ways our holy celebrations shape our faith.

They Remind Us of Our Heritage

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Our holy celebrations remind us of our heritage. The Christian story reaches as far back to the Exodus of ancient Israel and before, and stretches forward to the decent of a new heaven and a new earth. Author Lawrence Hull Stookey offers a powerful picture of how living at the intersection of history and eternity can shape our lives. Stookey says, “Indeed it can be said that Christians are to assume a cruciform posture: standing upright with feet firmly placed in the present, we stretch out one arm to grasp our heritage and the other arm to lay hold our hope, standing thus, we assume the shape of our central symbol of faith: the cross. If either hand releases its grip, spiritual disaster threatens as the sign of the cross becomes misinformed.” When we reach out as we celebrate Christ and hold onto our heritage and our hope, we find that He who is heritage is the One holding us together.

They Are Great Points of Reflection

Each day and season in the Christian year moves us through the main events in Jesus’ life and ministry. But the Christian liturgical year is not merely an annual memorial tool. Our holy celebrations are points of reflection and powerful reminders of the grace of God, a powerful measure of His love for us. The Bible says “but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Through these points of reflection, we can know and live Jesus’ story. These are times that can be used to cultivate discipleship and shape worship. These holy moments also invite us to the intersection of faith and eternity.

They Help Us Dig Deeper into Christ's Life

Every holy celebration allows us to live Jesus’ story and understand Christ’s life in remarkable ways. First, let’s take a look at Christmas. This a twelve day season focuses on the mystery and miracle of Jesus’ birth. C.S. Lewis once said, “The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth – the very whole thing the whole story has been about”. This couldn’t be truer. Next, let’s take a look at Epiphany. This is a season focused on revelation: Christ to the gentiles represented by the Magi’s visit, and the relationship of Christ to the Father and the Spirit at baptism. We know through these seasons that God is love, hope is real and miracles happen, even if they are beyond our understanding.

They Help Us Become Spirit-Empowered

Our holy celebrations remind us that the Holy Spirit is alive and active. We can see examples of the Spirit working as early as the Old Testament, leading and guiding the decisions of those He was moving through. They also help us become Spirit-empowered. For example, Pentecost is a season that rejoices in the giving of the Holy Spirit, reflected in Acts 2. It marks a major turning point in the church year, as the Spirit-empowered church symbolically moves out into the world. When we are guided by the Holy Spirit, it will speak to our hearts and remind us that God is love. The Holy Spirit also enables us to be better disciples of Christ.