The traveler thought about his time spent on the Island he had come to a new found place in God. He was confident and assured that God was guiding and directing him. He had decided to spend his last Sunday going to church. He got there before the priest came and the only person there besides himself was an elderly man. He decided that this would be a good time to read the bible before the Service began. He opened his bible to John 7:1 “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him.”

Those who hated Jesus and his message that caused change and a new direction wanted to kill him. In such an ominous and confusing climate Jesus had to come even closer to his father because even his disciples and his’ own family did not understand him. The traveler thought about how even Jesus’ brothers did not see his divinity and his true purpose. The traveler knew that he had to stand firm when he got back to the city. He knew that there would be those who would question and test his renewed commitment to Christ, for their own perverse and/ or misguided and erroneous purposes. Yet his relationship with God would be steadfast.

He opened his bible to John 7:2 “Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near”

He thought about Sukkot the Hebrew festival held in late September – early October that Jesus’ relatives were going to celebrate in the scripture. He had visited Jerusalem as a student and had actively learned as much as he could during his time there. He knew that he name of the festival Sukkot was plural and came from the Hebrew word sukkah which means a tent, dwelling place or booth similar to the huts their ancestors used when wandering the dessert for forty years. He also knew that during this seven day holiday families ate their meals there and invited guests including seven father of the Jewish faith Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David – a different guest each night. 

The festival reminded them of the days when there was no temple and there was no city, the days before many of them had grown contented and prosperous. The church seemed to be reminiscent of that time as well to the traveler. It was not grand; it had no luxurious stained glass, marble or bronze trappings. It was a simple island building that had stood there for quite some time. The traveler imaged that this was his booth – he would need to invite only Jesus in his booth along with his new found family the priest and the small congregation.

The traveler had not been to his own church in some time. He had missed the fellowship and the activities to some extent but what he really missed was the intimacy that can only be found in group worship. Worshiping alone was good but it did not compare to the joy that was experienced with an assembly of people who loved the Lord. Yes there was always sin, division in the members and disruptions present in the worship but it was a calling to a higher place in God – a place where the body of Christ – the church – humbly asked God to give them strength for another day. He would enjoy worship today – regardless of who came or what was said in the sermon – he would enjoy worship today because he was here sitting with his God in the presence of his people and he would love them flaws and all.

L