We read from one part of Chapter 7 from the gospel of John. Jesus is delaying his trip to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
There are three obligatory feast: Passover, pentecost, Tabernacles.
Jesus, though his life is threatened, does not excuse himself from celebrating this important feast.
The feast of tabernacles is a feast of remembrance. For seven days the people are invited to dwell in booths made of leafy branches in commemoration of the desert Sojourn.
Here the people were to bring a basket of harvest fruit up to the temple and then recite the saving acts of God who delivered his people from Egypt and gave them the promised land.
This feast also marks the anniversary of the dedication of Solomon's temple. Included in the feast was a procession in which the ark was introduced into the Temple. It may also be associated with celebration of God as King.
On the first night of the feast the temple was illuminated by lamps and torches. The whole temple area from a distance would look like a flaming torch, brilliant with light. It would have been reminiscent of the pillar of fire that led the israelites through the desert at night.
Here Jesus is celebrating this feast to recite the saving acts of God.
At the end of the gospel, it is noted that the Jews did not kill Jesus for his hour had not come.
At that hour that was too come, Jesus will enter in to the song of remembrance. He will take his place as the God's ultimate saving act.
Every Friday we enter into that memory. We recite God's saving act as we recall the passion and death of our Lord. This is why we do not eat meat. It is an opportunity for us to remember and recite so that we might live with our true identity, as people redeemed.
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