June 8, 2016
As a theatre person, people often ask me, “What was
your favorite show that you were in?” and they always seem a little surprised
when my response is Fiddler On The Roof.
Fiddler is not your typical epic tap dance number with spectacular
costumes, or a show stopping song, or a Rodgers and Hammerstein feel good kind
of musical, but it was MY very first musical and the one that captured my entire
being that pulled me in hook, line, and sinker to the world of theatre. My life
has been forever changed by that one experience when I was bit by the theatre
bug, but also by a love for devout Judaism.
The story opens with a poignant monologue by the
main character, Tevye, setting the stage like this:
“A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in
our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on
the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his
neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?'
Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance?
That I can tell you in one word: tradition!”
The
opening song, “Tradition”, proudly introduces this small Jewish village to the
audience with each group singing about their daily life according to their
Jewish customs. It is powerful and the composition of the song along with its
rich lyrics immediately invites the audience in and the message is clear: Jews
honor tradition with every fiber of their being, in every minute of the day,
and there is no room for those that are lukewarm in their religious practice.
Tevye
might actually be my favorite character of all time because he is feisty and
hot headed, proud and obstinate, witty and hyperbolic, but on the inside he is
just a big teddy bear, soft and cuddly, sweet and sensitive, struggling to
grow, wanting what is right, and just so darn vulnerable. His teenage daughters
start to challenge some of the Jewish customs, as teenagers often do, and the
play is really a glimpse into Tevye’s grappling with progress vs. tradition,
and understanding the why behind the laws. Tevye’s journey is not an easy one
and he has many a lively conversation with God about the changing world. His
heart is torn between the old and the new. Today’s gospel has these same
undertones.
In
the Torah there are a total of 623 laws that the Jews must learn and follow.
There are three entire books dedicated to teach these laws (Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy) and they literally cover everything including which hand to wipe
your booty with. The law was established to instill the importance of
discipline in people, and of course to address issues that needed to be
addressed, very similar to our own laws like driving the speed limit and not
stealing, etc. Laws are very important and they became everything to the Jewish
people (insert the song “Tradition” from Fiddler
here). Holy Days and Feast Days were the anchor and Judaism’s rich customs and
liturgies helped every Jew get back to their center and focus on God’s
faithfulness in their lives.
When
the Israelites lost sight of the why behind their laws and began to practice
them out of habit or routine, God sent them the prophets to remind them of the
reason, which is of course to soften their hearts to be as close to God as
possible. Discipline puts God in control and allows us to surrender our will to
His will. It was the prophets that introduced the coming of the Messiah that
would save them all from oppression and despair. The law and the prophets were
the center of the Jewish faith, tradition, and daily lives. Every Jew was
trained extensively in knowledge of them, however, the law and the prophets
both only existed to point the way to Jesus…belief and acceptance of Messiah
was their primordial purpose!
Like
Tevye, the Jews in today’s gospel, thought their traditions were being
threatened by this rogue whippersnapper named Jesus and they were doing their
own rendition of the song “Tradition” (today I’m picturing an ancient rap
battle Hamilton-style: “The Papas!
The Mamas! The Sons! The Daughters! TRADITION y’all!!) Jesus is saying simmer
down friends, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the
prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Don’t you get it? I’m the
one your traditions have prepared you to receive, so follow all of those
traditions and they will GPS you right to me. Everything will be accomplished
at some point in time (2nd coming) and then we will be able to say,
“it is finished”, but until then: “Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky
as... as... as a fiddler on the roof!”
How
do the Jewish law and the prophets translate to us? The gospels! Jesus Christ
is the fulfillment of all that the law and the prophets mean and were made for,
so if you follow him and adhere to what he teaches in the gospels, then you are
on the right track. I know that I need constant reminders to be able to stay on
that path, to not be consumed with the meaningless things of this world, and to
keep my eyes fixed on him. Have a blessed day and if you get a chance to watch Fiddler On The Roof, let it be a
reminder that the practice of our faith is important, but the love of God is
the only tradition that remains forever.
Reading 1 1 KGS 18:20-39
Ahab sent to all the children of Israel
and had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel.
Elijah appealed to all the people and said,
“How long will you straddle the issue?
If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.”
The people, however, did not answer him.
So Elijah said to the people,
“I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD,
and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.
Give us two young bulls.
Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood,
but start no fire.
I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood,
but shall start no fire.
You shall call on your gods, and I will call on the LORD.
The God who answers with fire is God.”
All the people answered, “Agreed!”
Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal,
“Choose one young bull and prepare it first,
for there are more of you.
Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire.”
Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it
and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying,
“Answer us, Baal!”
But there was no sound, and no one answering.
And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.
When it was noon, Elijah taunted them:
“Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating,
or may have retired, or may be on a journey.
Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears,
as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.
Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state
until the time for offering sacrifice.
But there was not a sound;
no one answered, and no one was listening.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.”
When the people had done so, he repaired the altar of the LORD
that had been destroyed.
He took twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob,
to whom the LORD had said, “Your name shall be Israel.”
He built an altar in honor of the LORD with the stones,
and made a trench around the altar
large enough for two measures of grain.
When he had arranged the wood,
he cut up the young bull and laid it on the wood.
“Fill four jars with water,” he said,
“and pour it over the burnt offering and over the wood.”
“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he said,
and they did it a third time.
The water flowed around the altar,
and the trench was filled with the water.
At the time for offering sacrifice,
the prophet Elijah came forward and said,
“LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
let it be known this day that you are God in Israel
and that I am your servant
and have done all these things by your command.
Answer me, LORD!
Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God
and that you have brought them back to their senses.”
The LORD’s fire came down
and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust,
and it lapped up the water in the trench.
Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said,
“The LORD is God! The LORD is God!”
and had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel.
Elijah appealed to all the people and said,
“How long will you straddle the issue?
If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.”
The people, however, did not answer him.
So Elijah said to the people,
“I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD,
and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.
Give us two young bulls.
Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood,
but start no fire.
I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood,
but shall start no fire.
You shall call on your gods, and I will call on the LORD.
The God who answers with fire is God.”
All the people answered, “Agreed!”
Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal,
“Choose one young bull and prepare it first,
for there are more of you.
Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire.”
Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it
and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying,
“Answer us, Baal!”
But there was no sound, and no one answering.
And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.
When it was noon, Elijah taunted them:
“Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating,
or may have retired, or may be on a journey.
Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears,
as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.
Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state
until the time for offering sacrifice.
But there was not a sound;
no one answered, and no one was listening.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.”
When the people had done so, he repaired the altar of the LORD
that had been destroyed.
He took twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob,
to whom the LORD had said, “Your name shall be Israel.”
He built an altar in honor of the LORD with the stones,
and made a trench around the altar
large enough for two measures of grain.
When he had arranged the wood,
he cut up the young bull and laid it on the wood.
“Fill four jars with water,” he said,
“and pour it over the burnt offering and over the wood.”
“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he said,
and they did it a third time.
The water flowed around the altar,
and the trench was filled with the water.
At the time for offering sacrifice,
the prophet Elijah came forward and said,
“LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
let it be known this day that you are God in Israel
and that I am your servant
and have done all these things by your command.
Answer me, LORD!
Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God
and that you have brought them back to their senses.”
The LORD’s fire came down
and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust,
and it lapped up the water in the trench.
Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said,
“The LORD is God! The LORD is God!”
Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1B-2AB, 4, 5AB AND 8, 11
R. (1b) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
O LORD, my allotted portion and cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
O LORD, my allotted portion and cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Alleluia PS 25:4B, 5A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Teach me your paths, my God,
and guide me in your truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Teach me your paths, my God,
and guide me in your truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples:“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
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