Christian Festivals

I thought Rev. Mark Braun's comments in the People's Bible about Deuteronomy 16:16-17 were interesting in how current worship in the Christian Church parallels the "big three" festivals of the Israelites, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles:

"These three major festivals of the Hebrew worship calendar allowed God's Old Testament people to relive God's rescue in the past, to rejoice in his continued blessings, and to respond to him with their gifts. Although God's New Testament people may worship their Lord in whatever manner and by whatever schedule they choose, in Christian freedom many churches have chosen to follow the historic church calendar. Similar to the three great celebrations of ancient Israel, the three major festivals of the Christian church year-Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost-focus not on what we will do for God but on what he has done for us. Although we are centuries removed from the great miracles of the birth and resurrection of Jesus and the birthday of the New Testament church, each year we have the privilege of reliving those great gospel events and pondering their meaning for us. We gather with other Christians and rejoice on those festivals days. We hear the Word, bring our praises and prayers, and respond to his grace with our hearts, our gifts, and our lives."