Many of us have grown up with traditions such as mass in Latin and fish on Friday. While these traditions were good and nourishing in their time and place, they never were intended to be the core of our faith although we can understand why some people cling to these traditions so tenaciously. Like the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees in today’s Gospel we can sometimes put these old traditions ahead of the core of our faith, the new that is happening in Jesus Christ.
We can empathize with these disciples of John and of the Pharisees who want to cling to these old traditions such as fasting. Jesus does not do away with this pious practice of fasting but proclaims that his earthly presence it not a time of fasting and mourning but a time of rejoicing in the presence of the bridegroom, Jesus. The Gospel proclaims that Jesus’ time on earth is a special time, he is the new wine, the source of joy and rejoicing.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm proclaims that true praise is doing the will of God: “the one that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to the one that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50). God’s will is not that we cling to old traditions and practices but we recognize the new in our midst, the loving presence of God. Jesus puts this challenge before the people of his time and also, he puts this challenge before you and me: “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” (Matthew 13:52). In this saying the new has priority over the old. All customs, traditions, and laws but always be interpreted through the “new” way and teachings of Jesus Christ. If our customs and traditions lead us to Jesus, we should nourish and cherish them but if they do not then we need to discard them. God himself proclaims: “The one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5). Let us today experience the new presence of God in our daily life.
Image: “IMG_2550HA Jacob Jordaens 1593-1678. Jésus instruisant Nicodème. Jesus instructing Nicodemus. Bruxelles.” by jean louis mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.