Today is the first day of the ancient feast of Sukkoth. This feast, a traditional harvest feast, may be the oldest celebratory event in human history, but for sure it is the oldest religious celebration in the Western Tradition. There are three pilgrim feasts in Judaism: Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), and Sukkoth (Tabernacles or Booths).

The Torah required that Jewish men make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem on these feast days to present themselves before the Lord. The Nasorean Sect believes that the Temple is not gone; the Temple is a Living Building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We believe that a reconstructed building will descend from Heaven in the form of the Ezekiel temple as a sign that the Meshiach ben David has come. As we are a living Temple, in which the members of our Sect are living stones, the feast of Sukkoth takes on greater meaning. We come together to worship before the G-d who Made Us. We worship in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, which like other things in the Temple is a living institution. The Ark of the Covenant is composed of the Melchizedek High Priest, the Chief Rabbi, and the Prophet; they represent the living receptacle of the Living Torah, which was the reason for the box. They are joined by the Archangel of the Presence, Yeshua ha Meshiach, who mediates the prayers for mercy before the High Altar of Heaven with the continued Melchizedekan sacrifice of Bread and Wine.

The Feast of Sukkoth is the only feast that is binding on Gentiles. The book of Zechariah makes clear that during the reign of Meshiach on Earth, the Gentile nations will be judged by their willingness to appear before the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem during this feast. We can therefore presume that it is binding today as well as it is the mark of obedience for Gentiles to the G-d of Avraham, Yitzak and Ya'akov.

The Themes of this Feast are Dependence upon G-d, Thanksgiving, Tolerance for others, and Pilgrimage.

We are taught to recall the Tabernacle in the Desert where G-d Dwelt among His People. We are taught to recall our sojourn in the desert by making Sukkot or Booths to live in during the period. We are reminded that G-d supplied us with food and water during that sojourn. We are taught to recall that He has promised to continue to provide us with these things as we Walk on His Path through Life.

We are taught that the Feast also recalls the Yearly Harvest and the signs of the Harvest are very much present during the feast. It is a time of thanksgiving that our forefathers in America recognized. It was the feast of Sukkoth that the Pilgrims were celebrating in Massachusetts.

We are taught that seven of the eight days of the feast are set aside for recognizing, praying for, and interacting with the Gentiles. The first day, today, is a High Holy Day set aside just for interacting with Gentiles. Traditionally, our sect invites Gentiles into the feast on this day and last night we did that. In a religion which at times becomes xenophobic, we are reminded that G-d sees all 70 of the nations as his children and calls upon us to rejoice with them in thanksgiving for the bounties of G-d.

Lastly, and for us the most important element, is the Pilgrimage theme. Nasoreans are dedicated to becoming Saints. As such, we recognize that we have to travel up Ya'akov's Sullam to Heaven. We recognize 50 steps on that journey and this feast helps us to recognize those steps. On the first day we remember faith, on the second excellence, then knowledge, self-control, patience, piety, and brotherly love ending on the eighth day with the dedication of the Jewish people to be Priests for the World. On the day after the Feast, we celebrate Simchat Torah, the rejoicing in the Torah. The Torah is the greatest gift of G-d to Man, greater even than the Shabbat.

We encourage all of our Gentile readers to keep this eight day feast holy and dedicated to its traditional meanings. Start getting ready for the Messianic age.