The Scribes and Pharisees were rebuked by Jesus for allowing their traditions to override God's clear commands. The rabbinical requirements regarding ritual washings for preparing and serving food were specifically mentioned. We no longer follow the rigid pronouncements of a priestly class. Even so, there are countless traditions and expectations-most unspoken- that govern our behavior and sometimes cause us to squabble. Christians are called at times to uphold tradition and at other times to create new patterns of living. While there are no simple formulas to guide our decisions, we can start by asking ourselves questions like these

What values and principles does a particular tradition, strive to embody?