Readying for the Third Day - Omer Day 48

by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen

Adonai said to Moses, "Go to the people and warn them to stay pure today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothes. Let them be ready for the third day; for on the third day Adonai will come down, in the sight of all the people, on Mount Sinai. You shall set a boundary for the people round about, saying, 'Beware of going up the mountain or touching the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death; no hand shall touch that person, who shall be either stoned or shot; beast or person, that one shall not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain." --Exodus 19:10-13 

Preparing to stand before G!d.
It takes time.
Starting that preparation on this day,
to be ready for the third day.
Keeping our hearts, minds, and bodies pure.
Practicing cleanliness.
We must do it correctly.
Going up on the mountain 
is fraught with danger.
If we go too soon, 
we may die.
If we wait too long, 
we will miss it.
We must get it just right.
We must be prepared.

Until now, we've been counting.

Now we must begin to prepare.

Let us breathe deeply.

Let us know that the soul

G!d has given us is pure.

Let us know that we are worthy.

It is time.

Today is Day 48, which is six weeks and six days of the Omer.

Today is Day 48, which is six weeks and six days of the journey from bondage to revelation.

Rabbi Katy Allen is a board certified chaplain and serves as a Nature Chaplain and the Facilitator of One Earth Collaborative, a program of Open Spirit. She is the founder and rabbi of Ma'yan Tikvah - A Wellspring of Hope, which holds services outdoors all year long. She is a co-convener and coordinator of the Boston-based Jewish Climate Action Network.