TRADITION VS. NEW TEACHING

“That’s unacceptable! You cannot do that since that is not our custom and tradition! You have to observe what we normally do!” These words may seem familiar to many of us when we deal with people doing the same things for a long time. People would insist on doing the same thing since it’s the NORMAL, USUAL, ORDINARY thing people do.
 
A new teaching. This is what the Pharisees and the leaders of the law during the time of Jesus were so concerned about – Jesus teaching a new way of thinking, a new way of doing things opposite to what is the mainstream teaching and rule.
 
When people are obsessed with the familiar and popular, people tend to neglect the possibility of looking at other perspectives. At times, even promoting violence in the protection of one’s own beliefs, manipulating other people to subject themselves to their ways. 
 
But Jesus knew that something was wrong. He knew that some things were meant to be changed, and challenged - and HE confronted them again. This time it’s about the purity of a person. 
 
The Pharisees were questioning the disciples of Jesus who were not following the tradition of washing their hands before meals. The Pharisees believe that it makes a person unclean, and impure because of the hands that were not cleansed. Cleanliness was very important for the Jews. In fact, every Jew must wash his/her feet in front of the door before he/she enters the house so that the person who enters becomes clean.  
 
And so Jesus confronted them about cleanliness by saying that “what enters the body is not what makes a person unclean but rather what comes out of his/her mouth makes a person unclean.” Undeniably, Jesus got them to the heart of the matter.
 
Jesus knew that many poor people were incapable of perfecting the laws about cleanliness and purity. He was telling the Pharisees that even though people eat with clean hands but if their hearts are filthy, the hands can never replace their filthiness. Because what makes a person clean or unclean is what he/she does, says, and thinks toward others. 
 
The saying is true, “Don’t judge the book by its cover.” It is not the outside that really matters but what is hidden inside does matter. Because what is inside of the person reflects on how one lives and behaves.
 
It is not always easy to challenge what is “nakasanayan” because some people will as much as possible, settle for what is most comfortable. But at times, we have to challenge some of our traditions because they may not be effective anymore. Like Jesus, traditions or laws are not meant to put a burden on people but rather to become their guide and channel for a better life. Let’s open to change, if necessary!
 
by Fr. Rock Saniel, OMI