” Traditions and rituals are meant to transform our relationships, to make us relate with one another with humility, love, mercy, and compassion.”
What is the heart of the matter? This is the question I have been reflecting on this past week. It came out of a conversation I had with a fellow priest regarding our work in the seminary. The question strikes me because it delves into the real essence of who we are as Christians and ministers of God.
Indeed, what are we called for? What is the true purpose of our lives? What is our personal and common mission here on earth?
Probably, we don’t think about these questions too much because we’re busy going around, doing things at home, at work and in the community. But even institutions like the seminary have to go back to this question of the “heart of the matter” of work, meetings, decisions, budget sheets, personnel matters and other things.
Politicians need to also ask themselves why they are running for office. What’s the heart of the matter in their pursuit for power, position and prestige? Is it really to serve selflessly? Is it really to serve the poor, the weak, and the people at the margins of the society? Is it to promote justice and equality among all men and women?
Even laws and regulations become the end in themselves when we forget their true purpose and meaning. It is easier simply to keep them than to understand their purpose and their spirit as part of our values and life operation.
For example, take the situation in the Gospel this Sunday. The Pharisees criticized the disciples of Jesus for not following the traditions of the elders because they found them eating a meal with unclean hands. To this Jesus responded, referring to the prophesy of Isaiah, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; a vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.”
We can get caught up in rituals, traditions and other external ceremonials and expressions that we forget their significance. Traditions and rituals are meant to transform our relationships, to make us relate with one another with humility, love, mercy, and compassion. They are meant to unite us and to see one another as brothers and sisters.
Absolutely, religious ceremonials, traditions and prayers are directed to God to give him praise and worship, but they become meaningful when they enable us to become more humane. As Jesus said in the Gospel, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Mark 9:13).
And so, we should always go back to the basic question of the heart of the matter. The best way to do this is to bring ourselves in prayer to God everyday of our lives so that we can examine our hearts for his will and mission, for what matters most in life to him and the people we love and serve.
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
