TRADITIONS OF LIBERATION

 Exodus 12:14-13:16; Matthew 20:29-21:22; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 6:12-15

“When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony.  Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’  When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.”      

“Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!’  The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. ‘Who is this?’ they asked.  And the crowds replied, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’

This weekend, I was privileged to attend the Army/Texas A&M football game.    While hardly a meeting of national powerhouses, it was a contest between two institutions with a shared tradition of putting country and community first, of replacing selfish motivations with a genuine preference for the welfare of others.  It was an honor just to be there and to share in the recognition, remembrances and celebration of the sacrifices of our Armed Forces.  I admit to thinking more about those things than the game.  At A&M, all three of my kids have not just been exposed to an “others first” perspective, but have been drawn to it and made it part of their lives, certainly a cause for thanksgiving.  I wondered how we as a people have let ourselves drift so far away from that way of life.  Perhaps it is because some of us have let the tradition of “others first” die.

Encarta defines traditions as “ceremonies, principles or standards followed and revered by a people continuously from generation to generation.”  God ordains traditions as anchors of civilization.  Traditions force people to remember where they have come from, what they have been through, what’s been worth celebrating and what tragedies have been endured.  Worthwhile traditions (some, admittedly, aren’t) also bring people together to share perspectives, memories and even future hopes.  The most special traditions turn us back to God, and encourage us to practice experiencing His – and each others’ – presence and power.  When battered by concerns about the future, God wants us to find solace in the past.  This is a recurring biblical theme, so it must be significant.  Traditionally, all people are better, and more effective, together than apart.

Two “competing” traditions help make this point.  Consider how differently two of the world’s greatest religions view the traditions of Passover/Christ’s Passion.  One focuses on liberation from a very tangible political power and physical oppression.  One celebrates liberation from spiritual oppression and physical death.  But both center on the work of God, not people, and neither is complete without an understanding and appreciation of the other.  God intended both to bring His people together, not to drive them apart.  There is a message here.

At this time of great uncertainty comes a time of great opportunity.  We can make this a time to set aside our differences and focus on the commonalities which unite us.  We can allow selfish desires to die and work together for the greater good.  We can claim the reality that we are better united than divided.  Or, we can elect an “every man (and woman) for him/her self” mentality and watch society crumble.  Historically, our tradition has been to work together.  Remember 9/11?  We can be better than we are, more resilient and more creative.  Through God, by making His Way traditional, we can be even better.