In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus acknowledges his teaching is not totally new. He assures his followers that he’s following teachers and prophets before him.  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” ( Mt 5, 17, Wednesday, Week 10 ) 

I repeat James Tissot’s painting in today’s blog for a number of reasons. Seeing those people dressed in clothes of long ago, some might say: “That’s old, we’ve gone way beyond all that.”

Some teachings are never out of date and so it’s wise to pay attention to old laws and prophets from long ago. The last 20 minutes is not the only reality in life, nor am I the only expert on life. We learn from human experience over the ages. Jesus did.

Some might think the Jewish tradition found in the Old Testament not worth looking at, but that too would not be wise. Jesus was an observant Jew, Matthew’s gospel makes clear.  He learned from his tradition, its prayers, its observances, its teachers, its life. Our lectionary wisely offers selections from the Jewish scriptures to study and learn from. Jesus told his disciples to do this. 

We should learn from other religious traditions too, especially those that have formed the peoples of Asia and Africa. In the global world we live in today, we are meant to share in their wisdom and good works.