Traditions

Good morning. I pray today you are almost done preparing for your Christmas holiday. We are only 10 days away. It's such a different Christmas this year. Well, the entire year since February has been very different. For me when lots of things are changing, I like somethings to remain the same. I like stability, dependability and security. When I get out my ornaments and think about the people they came from, it brings me a feeling that's often times hard to find on this earth. I think one of the reasons Jesus instructed us to do certain things is, He knew what we needed as human beings. God knew. So, God created Seasons, night and day, the ocean that comes in and goes back out. There is a rhythm to life. He told us to take Communion and as often as we do to remember.

I have been to Croatia. My husband's father is Croatian. So, whenever I think of traditions, I remember the main character of “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevye. I have actually preached in the same town the "Fiddler on the Roof" was filmed. Tevye was a man struggling with traditions. One of the main songs of that musical was entitled, “Tradition.” Several times, during the play, Tevya would reflect on a specific tradition. He would say that people would ask, “Why do we do this?” and he would have to answer, “I don’t know.” So, I want to make it clear that when I am sharing about traditions, we are not talking about “going through the motions,” but rather “meaningful repetition.”
​
Tradition played an important part in Jesus’ life. One of the central stories of the gospels is Jesus celebrating the Passover with his disciples. The Passover was an ancient tradition that spanned twelve centuries. The Passover meal kept fresh, in the minds of God’s people, how God was present and powerful during the Exodus. In the meal, God’s love and grace were celebrated and the faith of Israel was passed on to the children.

Christians do not remember Jesus’ Thursday night meal with his disciples as the Passover. To us it is called the Last Supper. In this meal Jesus connected what he accomplished on the cross with the angel of death passing over the Israelite homes several centuries before. It is a tradition that celebrates God’s sacrificial love, his overwhelming grace, and the gift of new life that we receive because of what Jesus did. We observe this tradition frequently as “Holy Communion,” The Sacrament of the Altar,” and “The Eucharist.”
​
The Christmas season is a time that is full of rituals and traditions. In this season are special songs, meals with family and friends, unique foods, worship on Christmas Eve, and presents on Christmas morning. These traditions and rituals have the ability to unite us as families, strengthen our bonds as people of God, as pass on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

ACTION STEP: Not all traditions are good. Not all traditions are bad. Traditions are whatever you want them to be. Make new ones. Keep old ones. You choose, how you want to remember things, people and events. The memory of the righteous is just. I pray whatever brings you joy and happiness in this turbulent time we are living in, you are able to find and create for others. Make a Merry Christmas for yourself and others no matter how challenging it may be. One day you and those you love will look back and say, "Those were the good ole days! Let's do that again in memory of ____________." You fill in the blank and remember.