12/31/2007
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"I am Lord even of the Sabbath."
Jesus Christ established his supremacy over all things, over all
circumstances, conditions, and phases of life.
In just one instance, He teaches us not only that
He is in control, that He is most powerful, He gives us the very crucible of what it takes to
succeed. You must think outside the box. Traditions can be
limiting. Reliance on the same way we've done things, over and over
again, year in - year out, can be stifling. There has to be a new
way of thinking, to reach higher levels of understanding.
In addition, He lets us know that religion has no meaning if it doesn't serve the people.
Rituals, religiosity, ceremonies, in short, tradition have to be
subservient to serving the people. "I demand mercy and not
sacrifice."
Hungry, the disciples of Christ, plucked and ate grains
from the field on a Sabbath. Immediately, there was an outcry from
the establishment. Jesus said: "If you had known what this
means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the
guiltless." In short, love and kindness trumps rituals. Rules
are meant to serve people. If they do not; if they result in
unnecessary pain; if they block true service to humanity, they can and
should be broken.
Tradition inevitably protects the status
quo. Old interests and habits die hard. Hungry for
fairness, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks decided to "pluck
the heads of grain" if you will, to do that which was not lawful at
the time - sit wherever they wanted on the bus. They demanded civility,
respect, and equal rights . They were going against the grain.
To succeed, you must believe in the supremacy of God to
and over your circumstances; Secondly, you must treat you fellow men with
essential love and kindness, because they are all children of the Most
High; Thirdly, you must think and act outside the conventional wisdom.
Follow the road not beaten. That much I learned.
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USA
USA
