It seems sometimes that people have stronger faith in their traditions than in their faith in Christ. By themselves, traditions are not bad. A tradition is a glorified habit, and we all have habits. For instance, it is a personal tradition, or habit, for me, every December, to grumble and complain about the commercial aspect of Christmas. (If this virus had been reported to the general public the first of December, would all the travel bans have gone into place and would they say no more than ten at any gathering? Would Wal-Mart have enacted their own measures? Just a thought.) It is my tradition, or habit, to have pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.

         As stated, not always bad.

         But what of the religious traditions?

         We celebrate Christmas in December because of tradition. Jesus was born in late May or early June. We know when the census was taken, so we know when He was born. The Roman Catholic Church decreed a December birth, and we fall into place with it. The reason why we celebrate Christmas in December is based on paganism and is something we have talked of before, but we still persist. Easter is celebrated at the correct time, but that is really accidental because the Catholic church would have gladly changed that if it had been needed. But other aspects of the holiday are pure make believe.

         For example, where in the Bible is the word ‘Lent’ and where does it say Lent lasts six weeks? Does it impress God that we give anything up for Lent? If it is to make us better, give it up for good. What Biblical grounds do we have for Ash Wednesday? And how did Fat Tuesday, which is a day of Church sanctioned debauchery and Mardi Gras, come into being!??! The Bible has nothing in it like that. Where in the Bible does it say Jesus fell beneath the Cross? He had help carrying the Cross, but Jesus falling beneath the Cross is a fabrication that we accept. All of this took place over Passover. It happened that it was also the season of worship of the pagan goddess Estre, one of the goddesses of fertility and celebrated with eggs and rabbits to symbolize fertility. When the Catholic church was formed, it incorporated the pagan religions into Christianity to placate the pagans. Estre was mixed with Christianity and, surprise! We have Easter with eggs and rabbits. At the very least we should call it Passover. The early Christians referred to it as Resurrection Day. But Catholic tradition mandates we call it Easter. If these things are not in the Scripture, why is it a part of our celebration? Tradition.  

         This week we are in what is called Holy Week. I always have wondered why it is called Holy Week. It is the week between Palm Sunday (Why is it called Palm Sunday? John 12 is the only place where palm fronds are mentioned while all four Gospels talk about people laying their cloaks on the ground. Shouldn’t we call it Cloak Sunday or Entering Sunday?) and Easter Sunday, so the Catholic Church decrees it is Holy Week. But was anything holy going on? Everything around Jesus, of course, was holy. But that had been an ongoing thing. It was during Holy Week that the Jewish leaders were plotting to take Jesus. During Holy Week they were actively seeking to turn the populace against Jesus. It was during Holy Week that Judas betrayed Jesus. It was not a holy week.

         On Friday, we will have Good Friday. Really? What exactly is good about it? Thursday and Friday of ‘Holy Week’ are the saddest days of the year. I suppose you could say it is good because that was when the sacrifice was made, but He died for us! We are to blame! That doesn’t make me feel any better.

         And then, of course, is Easter. Celebrated with eggs and rabbits and festive clothing. The end of the nightmare that is Lent and all those things we gave up. And then, it is over. Whew.

         I am going to confess something to you. If we have to have something like the corona virus, I am glad it has come now. I am very sorry for those high school and college seniors who have had their senior year ruined and I am sorry for those who have lost jobs or have been otherwise adversely affected. And, of course, my heart breaks for those who have been infected and their families. But, coming as it does at Resurrection time is a blessing in that it has shattered tradition. Now, at the time we should be celebrating our Lord, we really are celebrating Him. With our prayer life. With our reading. With taking solitary walks and talking to Him. We aren’t planning elaborate meals or selecting new clothes or looking for just the right Easter basket. We are, at this Resurrection time, turning our hearts and minds and spirits to the Lord. Maybe we are being forced to do so, but so what? It is good.

         We will not be in church for services on Resurrection Day, although we will be on-line. However, though not in the building, we will have our thoughts directed toward the Savior, toward the one who died for our sins and who could not be defeated by death, but who earned the victory over Satan. 

         All those traditions, who needs them? We have what we need!