From Pastor Biar’s Pen 

What is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is weird. And not just because it happens in September, now. I know it’s ultimately just an excuse for everyone to embrace the stereotypes of German (at least Bavarian) culture in the way we do for the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but at least it makes sense to do that on the Feast Day of your nation’s patron saint. Oktoberfest started in 1810 as a celebration of the wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. It was basically a massive wedding reception that the public threw together to celebrate. The next year, they decided that they had so much fun celebrating the wedding that they’d do it again for the first anniversary, and again for the second, and the third… I mean, I know the royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton received a lot of coverage, but I don’t see everyone pretending to be British for a week every April since. Although perhaps British cuisine explains the hesitancy there.

Weddings are a big deal, though – obviously for the bride and groom but also for their family and friends who want to celebrate them coming together. In the same way, a royal wedding can be unifying for the nation as the people celebrate their ruler who embodies the entirety of their culture, in a sense – especially a popular and beloved ruler. 

I think this is part of why Christ’s final and eternal victory on the last day is referred to as the marriage feast of the Lamb to His Bride, the Church, in St. John’s Revelation. What joy will we have as we see and participate in the celebration of that eternal union with our most beloved ruler of all creation as He irrevocably places His Name upon all of His people in that glorious day? What bliss shall it be to remember and commemorate that glorious event not every year, but every day if the life eternal that He has given unto us? As our headlines get increasingly bleak, let us continue to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” and take heart in the knowledge that the day of the great wedding feast is coming.

God’s blessings, Pastor Biar

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