The Importance of Tradition

Reflection Date: August 04, 2026 | Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest 
Daily Readings: Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Matthew 15:1-2,10-14

Children of God:
Many people think that Church tradition simply means old customs that refuse to change, but that is not what the Church means by tradition. 

Church Tradition is the living transmission of the faith that Christ entrusted to the apostles and that has been faithfully handed on through the generations under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

It includes the teachings of the apostles, the celebration of the sacraments, the way Christians prayed long before the Bible was fully compiled, and the wisdom that helped the Church understand and defend the faith throughout history. 

Even the decision about which books belonged in the Bible came through the discernment of the early Church guided by Sacred Tradition. 

Practices like making the Sign of the Cross, celebrating Sunday as the Lord's Day, honoring the saints, praying the Creed, and preserving the teachings of the early Church Fathers are examples of this living tradition. 

These traditions do not replace the Bible but help believers understand and live the Bible faithfully. 

Many sects reject tradition because they believe that only the written Scriptures should be the source of faith, sola scriptura, fearing that traditions may add human teachings to God's Word. 

Sadly, this misunderstanding often overlooks the fact that Christianity existed, preached, baptized, celebrated the Eucharist, and spread throughout the world before the New Testament was completed. 

Church Tradition, therefore, is not about clinging to the past but about faithfully preserving the gift of Christ for every generation.

In the gospel of Matthew, some Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus because His disciples did not follow the traditional ritual washing before meals. 

Jesus shifted the discussion away from external practices and toward the condition of the human heart. 

Later, He reminded the crowd, "It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth." (Matthew 15:11) 

The gospel invited everyone to distinguish between traditions that draw people closer to God and human traditions that merely sought appearances without genuine conversion.

What inspirations can we draw from this gospel?

First, inner conversion must accompany every religious action. 

Jesus challenge the people who had turned good religious practices into empty performances while neglecting love, justice, mercy, and obedience to God. 

A beautiful ritual loses its meaning when it no longer changes the person who performs it. 

A prayer recited without forgiveness in the heart becomes only words.

The same temptation exists today. 

We may attend Mass every Sunday, pray the rosary daily, wear religious medals, or participate in Church activities, yet still struggle to forgive, gossip about others, or refuse to help those in need. 

Religious practices are valuable only when they shape our character and lead us to become more Christ-like.

This is also why the Church treasures both Scripture and Tradition. 

They are meant to guide believers toward a living relationship with Christ, not simply to preserve customs. 

Every prayer, every sacrament, every feast day, and every devotion serves one purpose: to transform the heart so that love for God naturally overflows into love for others.

Inner conversion must accompany every religious action.

Second, wise traditions lead us to God, but blind following leads us away from Him.

Jesus recognized that not every tradition deserved equal respect. 

Some traditions faithfully preserved God's revelation, while others merely reflected human preferences that had overshadowed God's commandments. 

That is why Jesus said, "If one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:13-14)

The Church also continues this discernment today. 

Some customs may change according to time and culture, but the essential truths handed down by Christ through the apostles remain unchanged. 

That is why Catholics distinguish between Sacred Tradition, which belongs to the deposit of faith, and small traditions or customs that may differ from one place to another. 

Wisdom lies in knowing the difference.

In our own lives, we should also examine the traditions we follow in our families, workplaces, and communities. 

Some habits help us become kinder, more faithful, and more generous. 

Others may simply continue because nobody has questioned them. 

Every tradition should ultimately help us love God and love our neighbor more deeply.

Wise traditions lead us to God, but blind following leads us away from Him.

As you continue your journey today, ask yourself: Do the religious practices I observe truly deepen my love for God and for other people? 

Am I willing to learn the true meaning of the Church's teachings instead of relying only on assumptions or hearsay? Which traditions in my life genuinely help me become a better disciple of Christ?

Children of God: 
The gospel reminded us that faith is never measured by appearances alone.

Jesus looked beyond rituals and examined the heart. 

The Church continues that same mission today by faithfully preserving the apostolic faith while continually calling believers to authentic conversion. 

The greatest tradition we can hand on to the next generation is not merely a collection of customs but the witness of a life transformed by Christ. 

May we treasure the living faith entrusted to the Church and allow it to shape our hearts each day.