Shavuot 2012/5772 Leviticus 23:15-17. "'From the day after the day of rest -that is, from the day you bring the sheaf for waving -you are to count seven full weeks, 16 until the day after the seventh week; you are to count fifty days; and then you are to present a new grain offering to ADONAI. You must bring bread from your homes for waving-two loaves made with one gallon of fine flour, baked with leaven -as first fruits for ADONAI. Leviticus 23:21-22. On the same day, you are to call a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live. 22 "'When you harvest the ripe crops produced in your land, don't harvest all the way to the corners of your field, and don't gather the ears of grain left by the harvesters; leave them for the poor and the foreigner; I am ADONAI your God.'" Shavuot, at its most fundamental and elemental understanding is the commemoration of the divine revelation of God given at Mt. Sinai which is the fulfillment of the Passover Experience. Passover's Freedom isn't experienced until Mt Sinai with the revelation of God and His word, it is the culmination of the redemptive process, accepting God. It was at Mt. Sinai that Israel entered into this free will covenantal agreement with God in service unto Him. Shavuot is also the First Fruits offering of the harvest that is brought to the Temple! We celebrate the Feast Days to teach the children, the next generation the timelines and covenants of God so that they may make their own free-will choice. This is one of our most daunting and challenging tasks was face as parents, as Congregational leaders, and as Messianic Believers! Teaching our children, families, and congregates God's message is the antithesis of American and western culture's Hellenistic philosophy of "Do what seems right according to your own eye (Judges 21:25)" and "Self reliance". God teaches obedience and dependence while the world teaches non-obedience and independence. Without obedience to God and His word there is no obligation to freedom, there is no covenant relationship. Knowing God's desire in your heart is not enough, God requires the application of His mitzvahs and commands in your life!