THE NAZARITE VOW - A: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Numbers 6:22-27 (1 January 2023)

“The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Num 6:24-26).

The formula above is known in Hebrew as the birkat kohanim, i.e., the priestly blessing or benediction. The term barak in Hebrew means “blessing,” while kohanim is the plural of kohen which is the Hebrew for “priest.” It is called as such because the task of imparting God’s graces was assigned to Aaron and his sons, instructing them to bless the Israelites in this manner (v. 23). Thus, by tradition, this prayer is restricted to priests who descended from Aaron, the renowned first High Priest. Of course, this blessing is directly coming from God himself. The priests of the temple of Jerusalem were only God’s representatives in this dispensation of God’s graces. However, it should be noted that the kohanim were God’s vessels or instruments through whose extended arms divine benediction was distributed. This setup demanded, then, that the kohanim should be respectable and have lived a praiseworthy and righteous lifestyle.

Looking closely at the context of God’s command for the priestly blessing to be enacted, one can notice that it occurs as a conclusion to the laws concerning so-called Nazirites in Numbers 6. The Hebrew word nazir, from which the expression is derived, literally means “set apart as sacred, dedicated, vowed” (NABRE). This vow can be done by anybody who wants to be totally consecrated to the Lord. In biblical tradition, there are three famous Nazirites, and they are Samson (cf. Judges 13 and 16), Samuel (cf. 1 Samuel 1), and John the Baptist (cf. Luke 1).

Common among them is not only the miraculous circumstances behind their conceptions and their early consecration to God as infants/children, but their passion and resolve to fight the oppressed by advocating justice, order, and righteousness in all aspects of the human society.

In the Mosaic law to the Nazirites, it is stipulated in Numbers 6 that “they shall abstain from wine and strong drink; they may neither drink wine vinegar, other vinegar, or any kind of grape juice, nor eat either fresh or dried grapes” (v. 3). Apart from denouncing any drinking spree, they were mandated as well not to “eat anything of the produce of the grapevine; not even the seeds of skins” (v. 4). Essentially, the Nazarites were expected to be sober at all times. On top of this dietary rule, they were also tasked to maintain a decorum and behavior of asceticism. In particular, it is decreed that “[w]hile they are under the nazirite vow, no razor shall touch their hair” (v. 5) and that “they are not to come near a dead person [n]ot even for their father or mother, sister or brother….” (v. 6). These strict regulations only translate that all Nazirites should be totally detached from earthly pleasures and attachments.

They were ordered to do so not out of hatred of the world, but because they are simply dedicated to the Lord (cf. v. 21).

As we face 2023, all of us will dedicate once more ourselves to the Lord, making a new year’s resolution to be better persons. Yet, this promise is meaningless unless we explicitly disengage ourselves from mundane concerns, exuberant revelries, and luxurious merry-makings. May our spiritual cleanliness be given top priority if we are serious in our vow to be God’s children.

- Rex Fortes, CM