Is Tradition Greater Than God?

"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"
                                                       - Mark 7:5

    So as I sit here today and search for a meaning behind this reading for my life, I have come to the conclusion that we as humans put a ton of emphasis on traditions that are not made from God. Sunday is no longer a day of rest, yet a day of FOOTBALL! No professional sporting event can start without the introductions and National Anthem. The most personal/recent tradition that is human made and a little crazy is the whole idea a wedding day!

   I am by no means saying a Wedding is bad or dumb. The exact opposite of that in fact! We put more emphasis as a society on how much a wedding costs, what type of food we have at the reception, what quality of pictures or video we have of that day. We see shows on tv about which wedding is the best or even watching a poor woman who is trying to prepare herself to spend the rest of her life with the man she loves or "loves" but becomes a crazy BRIDEZILLA! I wont even get into the whole idea of an engagement ring, that would just cause me to go crazy! The point I am getting to is found in the verse above! WE DO NOT NEED TO FOLLOW THE TRADITIONS OF MAN JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE TRADITIONS!

    In fact, as Catholics we are called to live very far from what society tells us! We are called to get to Heaven and live according to the teachings of Christ! Society, well we all live in it and know what society tells us. Going back to the wedding stuff, I am reminded of the conversation I had with my wonderful fiance this morning. We were talking about the ceremony, THE MOST IMPORTANT TRADITION OF THE WEDDING, and talking about who to put in what places and she told me that it is not a matter of who is there or how many people are in it, because God has given us this ONE MASS to be all about His love for us and the expression of that love to one another and that we are sharing that with our families and friends.

   So, yes, not all traditions are bad and a lot of traditions are very good! The traditions of the Church (Mass, Confession, the examples of the Saints, Weddings, Voting for a new Pope, Prayer, etc.), Family Traditions (Cookouts on summer nights, family football games, smashing a chair for good luck in a wedding, etc.). Traditions are great, but we must not forget that TRADITION SHOULD NEVER BE GREATER THAN THE TRADITION OF GOD's UNENDING LOVE FOR EACH ONE OF US! So as baseball's tradition of spring training begins today as well as the many traditions of Mardi Gras come to a close today, I say Happy Fat Tuesday, good luck in Lent and a PLAY BALL, but remember that our traditions are great and fun, but they should never take the lead over God!