Fiddler on the Roof

Matthew 15:7-20

 

 

In the movie “Fiddler on the Roof”, the main character, Tevye, is fighting to uphold the ancient traditions of his faith. A fiddler playing on the roof top serves as a metaphor for the Jewish traditions that Tevye is defending. Like the fiddler, these traditions are at risk of losing their balance and falling; and with it, people’s lives would never be the same.

 

Following the Babylonian exile, Jewish rabbis began to develop a system of meticulous rules and regulations governing the daily life of the people. There may have been good reasons for this in the beginning, but by the time Jesus appears, they had become a burden and did more harm than good. But, like Tevye, the Pharisees are defending their system of oppressive rules.

 

It is a system that focuses on the outside of a person and not what is on the inside. That is precisely what makes it so appealing. After all, if your salvation is dependent on your ability to obey and follow the rules, what do you need God for? You can put God in a box that you open on Sunday, or other designated times, and then put Him back in the box when you are done.

 

How appealing that is to human nature. From the time of Adam and Eve, human nature has coveted to control their world and be like God. And in a very real way, to become your own god. All you need to do is focus on the outside and not look at what is going on inside your soul.

 

We can look good on the outside: wear designer clothes, drive a luxury car, live in the best neighborhood and say all the right things – but be ugly on the inside. We can go to church every Sunday, pray every day, read our Bible and get involved in church committees – but our hearts can still be cold towards God.

 

Our identity is in Christ, not rules or traditions or some other substitute. So ask yourself, “What have I used to take God’s place”, and then ask God to take His rightful place in your life. If you do this, the fiddler on the roof will come tumbling down, but your life will have so much more meaning and purpose that there is no comparison.

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2015%3A7-20&version=NIV;MSG

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Matt.15.7-Matt.15.20

 

 

 

 

But, that's the way we always did it! - 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Almost 35 years ago, my husband and I packed up the family and moved from Wisconsin to Ohio. We left our family and friends and started over; new home and friends, new job and new traditions to create. 

Our first Christmas in Ohio seemed empty, so different from how we lived for so many years. It soon became apparent that we needed to create new traditions. That doesn't mean the way we had done things before was wrong or outdated, it simply meant today was a new day and change was to be embraced. Family traditions can promote togetherness and love. 

The reading for today highlights tradition established in a specific country, society or period of history when head coverings were very important. A man did not cover his head while worshiping, but a woman did. The Catholic Church I grew up in followed this custom. It was a tradition signifying respect and authority.

Today, we do not practice that rule, but we still recognize the authority signified by it. Christ is the head of the church; a man is the head of his household. This means a man is responsible to Christ and a woman responsible to her husband. This teaching is not about who is the boss, it is about relationships and love.

"It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you." (1 Corinthians 11:2)

Read today's text in the Message translation, right here.