Continued ☝️
This method ties the movement of time not just to history but to the eternal story of salvation, reminding us that each year is imbued with its own spiritual significance and call to reflection on the Gospel.
Nature and Renewal: The Ethiopian Landscape
The New Year is not only a time of spiritual renewal but also one where the very land seems to reflect the work of the Creator. In Ethiopia, September marks the end of the rainy season, when the earth is washed clean by the rains, and the arid plains burst forth with new life. The valleys, plains, and mountains are clothed in the verdant beauty of spring, a sign of the earth’s renewal that mirrors the renewal we seek in our souls. This day, fittingly named Enqutatash, is a time when children, dressed in white, go forth with ketemas and flowers, singing songs of joy, their innocence reflecting the purity we seek as we begin anew.
The Significance of Saint John
It is no accident that this sacred day is linked to Saint John the Baptist, for it was John who, standing at the threshold of the Old and New, cried out, "The kingdom of heaven is near; repent!" (Mark 1:14). As the forerunner of Christ, John called the people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Messiah, to repent and be baptized, to turn from sin and embrace the new life offered through Christ.
In this way, the Ethiopian New Year mirrors John’s message: it is a time to turn from the past, to seek reconciliation, and to embrace the mercy of God. The day itself, as we have seen, is dedicated to his memory, for John is the gatekeeper between the old era and the new, just as we stand on the cusp of a new year, called to repentance and renewal.
A Calendar Set Apart
One might ask, why is the Ethiopian calendar different from that of the Western world? The wisdom of the Ethiopian Church, preserved through the ages, has its own rhythm, marked by the historical and theological distinction that the Church observes. The West, influenced by the Roman system, marks time according to the destruction of Rome or the conquests of Alexander. In contrast, the Ethiopian Church traces its roots to the year 5500 BC, a calculation grounded in the sacred history of salvation, making the Ethiopian calendar seven years apart from the Gregorian.
This difference is not merely technical but deeply theological, for the Ethiopian Church grounds its understanding of time in the life of Christ and the sacred story, a testament to its ancient roots and profound continuity with the early Church.
The Call to Spiritual Renewal
As we enter the New Year, beloved brethren, the call is not simply to mark time but to transform our lives. As the Apostle Peter admonishes us, "Enough is the past time, when you did the will of the Gentiles, in debauchery, carnal lust, drunkenness, and shameless idolatry" (1 Peter 4:3). The New Year is a sacred opportunity given to us by God to correct the mistakes of the past, to reconcile with those whom we have wronged, and to commit ourselves to lives of holiness.
Let us not, as Peter warns, be lulled into thinking that God overlooks our sins because He has delayed His judgment. Rather, let us take this time of grace to repent, to turn from the sinful pleasures of the world, and to focus our hearts on the things of heaven. This is not a time for earthly celebrations filled with vanity and excess, but a time to go before God, to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and give drink to the thirsty. This is the true celebration of the New Year, a celebration of repentance and righteousness.
Conclusion: Bearing Fruit for the Kingdom
As we embark upon this New Year, let us heed the parable of the barren fig tree, where the Lord, finding no fruit, says, "Cut it down." Yet, in His mercy, He gives it one more year to bear fruit (Luke 13:6-9). So too are we given this new year, this age of credit, to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. Let us rise from the slumber of sin, casting off the laziness of the past, and live lives worthy of our calling.
Continues 👇🏾