Well, It’s another Sunday morning. “‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.’ He answered them, ‘And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, Honor your father and your mother and whoever reviles father or mother must surely die. But you say, If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father. So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well, did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
“And he called the people to him and said to them, ‘Hear and understand: It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.’ Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit. ‘But Peter said to him, ‘Explain the parable to us.’ And he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.’” Matthew 15: 2-20 (ESV).
It’s funny how little things like a special food, a word, or a specific saying triggers memories of family traditions. A while back, I was reading what some of my family members were chatting about on the internet. They were talking about words that were traditionally used by family before them. They would say one of these words and then someone would say, “Oh I forgot about that one . Mom used that all the time.” Then they would start using it.
Traditions, part of our heritage of things we are supposed to remember. These words came flooding back to me, thick as sweet clover honey dripping from one of my grandma’s wooden spoons. Traditions, when a hand shake meant something. I remember some of our other family traditions. A small get together or family reunions where we would all attend and there would be stories and singing. We would always hear a hymn or two, and they always prayed for the food. It wasn’t a question of, should we pray, it was more who is going to pray, a tradition. See, God was always a big part of our traditions, passed down from person to person in our family to the younger ones. Our elders lived a Christ-centered life and passed this on down to their children. In saying this, I will be honest, there was a time when some of us as individuals strayed from our Faith. True to his word Jesus never left us and he brought us back to the flock.
God has set standards for us, they are called the Ten Commandments. Rules, things our God said we should do to live a good life. Just like the words and traditions our family elders have said to us. Traditions, simple words and actions to live a good a true life.
Are you living these words? Are you living a good life and happy right now, this minute? These are not hard things to do, it’s called being honest with others and yourself. Being the person your family elders would want you to be. I say this every week and it is so true, God wants you to be happy. God wants you to have all you want and more. When you live a Christ-filled life you will find you are rich in the love of Jesus Christ. You will never want because God does provide and you will be happy.
Ask Jesus to find you. Reach out from that dark place you are hiding in, and God will take your hand. All you have to do is ask him and truly believe and it’s yours. In Matthew 21: 22 (ESV) Jesus said this: “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” I want this for you, All we have to do is follow the words set out by God and repeated to us by our elders. I know you want this, God wants you happy and we all want you with us at the great calling. Always remember no matter what you do, God truly loves each and every one of you, and so do I.
