Consecration: Explanatory Notes on Exodus 40:1-15

Reflecting on the Fifth Sunday in Lent: One Day after Sunday (Year C)

Scripture

Psalm 20; Exodus 40:1-15; Hebrews 10:19-25

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Prayer

God of wilderness and water, your Son was baptized and tempted as we are. Guide us through this season, that we may not avoid struggle, but open ourselves to blessing, through the cleansing depths of repentance and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

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Reflection

The Lord spoke to Moses, “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. You shall put in it the ark of the covenant, and you shall screen the ark with the curtain. You shall bring in the table and arrange its setting, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. You shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant and set up the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle. You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. You shall set up the court all around and hang up the screen for the gate of the court. Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it shall become holy. You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils and consecrate the altar, so that the altar shall be most holy. You shall also anoint the basin with its stand and consecrate it. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water and put on Aaron the sacred vestments, and you shall anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put tunics on them and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests; their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout all their generations” (Exodus 40:1-15).

Exodus 40 describes the final stages of constructing and consecrating the Tabernacle, marking the fulfillment of God’s instructions for his dwelling place among the people. Verses 1-15 detail the setting up of the Tabernacle and the consecration of the priests.