Why Do We Do the Things We Do?

Chapter 23 of William Barclay's book The Mind of Jesus gives readers a deep understanding as to how a simple Passover meal between Jesus and his disciples became a memorial dinner that is worth remembering. One can't help but wonder how Jesus, with all of his schedules, can manage to make arrangements to make sure that all of the details that he wanted will be taken care of. For starters he knew precisely to where and to whom he was sending the disciples ahead to make the preparations (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13). They are to find a place with a large upper room; a place normally used as a guest room or storage and have that as a place where a rabbi can meet his disciples and commune with them. To find this place they were to find a man carrying a water pot; something that an ordinary man would never say yes to, since this is a woman's job, but under the circumstances would agree to since this is something that the Lord needed. Once the arrangements were made the disciples found the things as Jesus said and they made all the preparations. It's interesting to note here that in such events people would prepare food themselves, and that every food that they make enables the participant to remember why they are gathering that day. In addition, in those days, Barclay states that every scrap of food at the event had to be eaten, and nothing must be left on the plate. Such is a big contrast to the way the Western world goes about hosting an event. Normally Americans would just have these events catered (with the details left to the hands of the event planner or co-ordinator). And at times the attendees don't even know why they are there or what they are celebrating. So why do we do the things we do? It seems as though we have lost perspective as a society and as a church. Most everything has become ordinary. We keep doing things (i.e. events, practices, and rituals), but we don't know why we are doing it. Maybe we need to go back and re-connect with our heritage so that we can rediscover their value. So that the ordinary can become meaningful again.