WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART?

In the late 20th century cartoon, “Pinky and the Brain,” two mice met each night in a dimly lit, cluttered room to discuss their plans for the next day. Pinky, the tall, lanky, intellectually challenged one, would ask, “So Brain, what are we going to do tomorrow?” Brain, whose massive head overshadowed the rest of him, would reply in a somewhat condescending, albeit resigned tone, “Same thing we do each day, Pinky – try to take over the world.” The two of them would spend the rest of the night concocting a deceptively complex plan with a seemingly trivial – but ultimately fatal flaw. The following night, undeterred by the timely demise of yet another plot to overthrow the authorities and rule the world, they would begin scheming all over again.

Unlike the innovative spirit of Pinky and the Brain, the religious authorities of Jesus’ day are content with promoting and defending their practices. Coming from Jerusalem, that imposing symbol of custom, they observe that Jesus’ disciples are not following the tradition of the elders. The disciples are not doing what all faithful Jews have been taught to do – wash their hands before meals. By failing to do so, the scribes and the Pharisees suppose that Jesus’ disciples have become defiled – unclean in the sight of God. And if Jesus were a bona fide religious authority – like them – not only would he know that “cleanliness is next to godliness,” he would teach his disciples to practice the well-known purity rules.

After all, didn’t God, in God’s wisdom, teach the Israelites that

they are to be different from their pagan neighbors?
they are to hold on to those traditions which sustain their faith in the one, true God, and
they are to be holy as that God is holy?

So when the scribes and Pharisees question the disciples’ behavior, isn’t their criticism valid? Then why does Jesus respond by criticizing them for simply doing what they have been taught to do – uphold the traditions of their elders? Quoting from the prophet Isaiah, Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

Castigating them even further, he adds, “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” So Jesus isn’t against the tradition; he is against what the religious authorities have done with it – elevated it above God’s commandments. Somewhere along the way, they took what was meant for good and carved it into an idol – an idol that places a heavy burden on all who want to do the right thing.

Are there traditions at Christ Church Cathedral begun as life-giving rituals – ones designed to draw everyone who worships here closer to God and one another?
Have any of those traditions been elevated to a Cathedral Idol?
If so, how are they placing heavy burdens on us?

The Church, like Israel, is meant to be a light to the nations. So this cathedral is meant to be a light to those around us.

Some of our traditions help our light to shine; some may not.
Some innovations help our light to shine; some may not.

Recall that Pinky and the Brain were innovators.
The scribes and Pharisees were traditionalists.
Yet both used their time, talent and energy either to produce or to preserve situations that were detrimental – detrimental to their relationship with God and others.

Jesus further challenges the religious authorities – and us – to look more closely at our definition of what’s clean and pure, and what’s dirty and impure: Take a look at what’s in your hearts! That’ll tell us whether we are clean or unclean. And eventually what’s in our hearts will come out of our mouths, or will show up in our behavior – and that’s what defiles us. Not how good we are at following the rituals – because, if you’re like me, you can perform the outward acts while your heart is far from God. I’m not talking about the occasional daydreaming that occurs when we’re listening to a sermon, singing a hymn, or standing during the Eucharistic prayer. I’m talking about performing the outward acts while persistently holding on to what is not of God – unforgiveness, malice, greed, pride, envy and a host of other death-dealing attitudes. So

the issue is not tradition versus innovation – it’s what going on in the heart while we are speaking with our lips, singing with our voices, helping with our hands.

the issue is not tradition versus innovation – it’s what happens when – like the Brain’s head – one or the other overshadows God’s command to love God, neighbor and self.

the issue is not tradition versus innovation – it’s who is the real authority in our lives – tradition, innovation, or Jesus Christ?

As New Testament scholar, Lamar Williamson Jr. reminds us (in Interpretation: Mark), it’s not about what is old or what is new – it’s about what is vital. Most of us would agree that one thing that is vital is that we pass on the faith to our children. In the next couple of weeks, the Faith Formation and Enrichment for our children and youth will begin. Some will consider it to be an innovative education program – because it hasn’t been done like that in our history. Others will consider it to be a traditional education program – because of God’s command to Israelite parents: “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise . . .” (Deut. 6:6-7).
The Faith Formation part of the program will involve parents of the 5-10 year old group passing on our faith by sharing bible stories with their children at home. Parents of youth eleven and older have been invited to work with me to develop more individualized faith formation plans for their children. The Faith Enrichment part of the program involves other members of this congregation as well as members of the larger community who will offer faith enrichment experiences to our children and youth – drama, arts and crafts, storytelling, community service, and discussion of age appropriate videos and books. One of the things that is vital is for us to pass on our faith to our children – because what is in our hearts comes out of our mouths, determines our behavior, and influences our children.

So . . . why don’t we show them – by word and action – who’s the real authority in our lives?
Why don’t we help them appreciate that purity is first and foremost cleanliness of the heart?
And why don’t we encourage them to join God – not in taking over the world, but in inviting the world to come to God?