God’sTraditions Are Important

Today’s reading: Exodus 12:1-28

A young man to whom I have been a mentor for the last two years has done a fine job of avoiding the temptation to return to his troubled life amidst gangs. While I will admit that he still annoys me with his loud voice, occasional swearing and penchant for aimlessness (playing video games until 5 a.m., sleeping until  2 p.m., ect.), all-in-all, I am proud of him. He has proven himself entirely trustworthy to my family and me, and his charm has made him very popular at my church.

But he does still have much to learn.

A big hurdle this man has yet to overcome is a lack of employment. His criminal background causes automatic rejection of most applications he submits, and he has  let that discouragement defeat his spirit. (Much of his official record is misleading. As a young boy, he pled guilty to a heinous crime that witnesses now say — not publicly, unfortunately —  was committed by an adult family member. That set in motion a very tragic next few years that looks terrible on paper.) For the moment at least, he seems to have given up all hope of ever finding a job.

This young man and I have had many discussions over the months about what I consider to be the root of this problem: his refusal to take communion.

When I talk to him about this, he always laughs. He cannot understand how eating a piece of bread dipped in juice will help him find a job.  He says he saw communion, and many other sacraments, performed by hypocrites in his childhood, and therefore he cannot take them seriously. He chuckles at the idea of this “meal.”

“That may fill ya’ll up, but I need a lot more than that,” he always says with smile.

Several friends and I have tried to convey to him the spiritual importance of the church’s sacraments. We tell that him that taking communion with the proper spirit will, definitely, help with his job search, and we urge him frequently to “just try it.”

“Just take a leap of faith,” I say.  “If you take communion in the right way — focusing on God instead of on the hypocrites of your past — I promise that you will feel better. About everything — especially your job search.”

But, while he is respectful of our “opinions,” my friend remains unconvinced. He rarely even stays in the room while communion is being served.

Today’s reading brings all of this to mind.

It is  good to see at the start of Lent this Old Testament reminder of the beginnings of Passover. Our Lord Jesus was crucified, of course, by people who, obviously, had forgotten (or never learned) the origin of those traditions. Those who so cruelly honored their hatred of Jesus during that year’s fateful celebration were, obviously, not aware that the original Passover was the means by which they had avoided their own crucifixion;  they were, obviously, not in the habit of celebrating properly.

Yes, it is my “opinion” that sacraments should be observed carefully — with the spirit as well as with the body. Tragedy can otherwise result.

Thanks be to God for the myriad of blessed, official, methods for honoring, and remembering, His love. May I always partake in them with a grateful spirit.