Tradition is defined as an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought or action. Take for instance a cooking method. Sarah asked her mother, "Why do you always cut the turkey in half and put it in two small roasters?"

"Because my mother always did. It's a tradition handed down through our family," responded her mother.

"But Mom, did you ever think they didn't have big roasters back then?" Tradition — a customary pattern or action. But who said traditions can't be changed?

A family tradition concerning the Christmas tree in Ingrid's house was: The men cut the tree, put it in a stand, strung the lights around it, and watered it daily. The women unpacked the orna­ments and decorated it — taking roads down memory lane.

"Here's Baby's First Christmas. You were so cute, Elsa."
"Look! Here's Grandpa's Swedish horse."
"Careful! That snowflake is very delicate."

It might take hours, but the result was breathtaking. Four weeks later — when the needles began to drop — the women undeco­rated the tree and carefully packed the ornaments up. The men unwound and removed the lights, lifted the tree from its stand, wrapped it in a plastic sheet, and hauled it out to the curb for pick up. Tradition — it's good, but tradition can change, and often for the good. This year it had.

Tonight Ingrid's Christmas tree lights twinkled brightly as she finally found time to sit and admire it. The Christmas season had been a blur for her this year. She watched it rotate on its plastic stand, waiting for her favorite ornaments to come into view. Who cares if the twelve days of Christmas are over? Why hadn't she bought an artificial tree long ago? Answer? Because it had been tradition in her home to have a real tree. Of course, as dictated, it had to be a blue spruce. They smelled the best. "Never a black spruce," Grandpa had warned her. "They stink like cat urine!"

When her husband was in the army, a real blue spruce in Colo­rado almost "broke the bank" their first Christmas together. But tradition had to be observed. For over ten years now, they followed the custom of having a real, blue spruce Christmas tree. But a change in tradition was about to occur. In year eleven, her beautifully deco­rated blue spruce fell over — not just once, but twice! Then there was that strange odor — it smelled like cat urine. "How can that be? This isn't a black spruce," she wondered. Then she caught Tigger the cat using the water in the stand as a litter box. "That's it! I'm through," she yelled.

The after-Christmas sales found Ingrid purchasing a large arti­ficial tree for next year. "Heck with tradition — it looks like a blue spruce, and if I buy some room spray, it'll smell like blue spruce!" Christmas twelve would be different, and it was because of change. And for Ingrid the change was good.

* Change — No more braving the elements to cut down a forest tree and string lights. The only thing to brave now was the cold of the attic where their new tree was stored. No need to check each strand of lights. This tree already had lights attached to its boughs. Artificial trees are a lot easier to handle and set up.

* Change — No need for a tipsy tree stand. This year we can drink all the 7-Up and not a gulping tree. Artificial trees don't drink, don't drop needles, and cats can't — well you know what I mean.

* And the last change? — No need to take the tree down early. Artificial trees can be enjoyed for a long time. I've even heard of artificial Christmas trees becoming Valentine trees!

"Tradition! Tradition!" Tevia sings out in Fiddler on the Roof. Yes, tradition is important. But traditions like cutting a turkey in half because your mother, her mother, her mother's mother, and so on have always done it can and should be changed. I bet Sarah didn't continue that tradition. Do you think Mom hung on to it?

Tradition is also defined as the handing down of beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example. As was their custom, Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the festival of the Passover. Passover commemorated the night of the Jews' escape from Egypt when the Angel of Death came, killing the firstborn of the Egyptians but passing over Israelite homes. At twelve years of age, Jesus was now allowed to attend the festivals. He and his fam­ily joined other families traveling to Jerusalem. It was quite com­mon to caravan to keep one safe from robbers. Imagine entering the holy city for the first time, seeing the temple, and observing sacred rituals. How that would have fascinated Jesus.

Jesus was no longer a child. As a man he would follow the traditions observed by all Jewish men. Every Jewish male was re­quired to go to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the three great festivals: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. In fact, it was the aim of every Jew in the world at least once in a lifetime to attend the Passover feast. Following the Passover came the weeklong Festival of Unleav­ened Bread. The time had arrived for Jesus to fulfill the law by taking on the obligations of the law — becoming a son of the law.

This was an exciting time for Jesus as he attended his first Passover celebration. He enjoyed the ritual of worship and festi­val. At every opportunity, he went to the temple courts to hear from some of the greatest rabbis of the faith. He listened attentively to their words. He was not dismissed because of his age but was al­lowed to join in the discussions. His questions at times were con­fronting as they probed the depth of traditional belief. Jesus dem­onstrated wisdom beyond his age. "And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers" (Luke 2:47).

Packing up his reference books, his business journals, training manuals and the like, the young man looked at his framed master's degree in education with pride. It had been a long journey through the academic halls, but it was worth it. He had just accepted a good career opportunity. Before packing to move, he had one more thing to do — replace his worn blue jeans and tennis shoes with more job-appropriate items. It was off to the Summerset Mall with his fashion consultant, Marissa, his wife. Too bad their young son had to come with them. The budget had no money for a sitter, and after this shopping spree it'd be tuna casserole and scalloped potatoes with Spam for some time.

Confining their toddler in his stroller, the couple began to sort through a wide selection of suits, pants, and sport coats. As her husband paraded out of the dressing room, Marissa would nod her "Yes" or shake her "No." After deciding on the navy blue sport coat with beige pants and a black suit, they turned their attention to shirts, ties, and shoes. Shopping completed, Tom followed the sales clerk to a register wondering if he worked on commission.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Marissa looked down expecting to see her son asleep. He'd been very quiet during their time spent searching for just the right outfits. At once her heart skipped a beat, and then another. The stroller was empty. Panic set in as she searched the aisles for her son. "Nathan! Nathan! Where are you? This is not funny! Tom, Nathan's gone!" Immediately, parents and clerk be­gan a search. Store security was called. Was their son hiding? Had someone abducted him? Fear gripped father and mother. Nathan was nowhere to be seen. Then they heard childlike laughter com­ing from under a display of jackets. Parting the hangers they dis­covered their smiling son sitting on the floor beneath it. "I'm not lost, Mommy. I just been here," he said reaching out to her. Flooded with relief, Marissa pulled him out. Embracing him and then di­rectly facing him she warned, "Don't you ever do that again! Your father and I were so scared we'd lost you." "Okay, I promise. Can we go now?" he agreed so innocently.

"Our son, our son ... has anybody seen our son? Has anybody seen Jesus?" The caravan was on the road early for the return trip home. Customarily, women and children traveled in the front with the men bringing up the rear. Joseph assumed Jesus was with Mary up front. Mary assumed he was with Joseph in back. Neither was concerned. A day's journey out the caravan stopped to strike camp. It was unusual for Jesus not to be there to help. They began to search for him, "Jesus, our son, Jesus, have you seen him?" He was nowhere to be found. The realization then hit them that he must have stayed behind in Jerusalem. "Why would he do that without telling us? Didn't he know we'd be worried?" Mary asked Joseph as they hurried back to the city to retrieve him.

Nathan's parents' journey to the mall had been abruptly inter­rupted with the disappearance of their son. Jesus' parents' journey back to Nazareth had been abruptly interrupted with the disappear­ance of their son. Nathan's parents found him safe under a coat rack right away. Jesus' parents found him safe in the temple court three days later. Nathan's mother scolded her son, and Jesus' mother scolded hers.

Can't you hear Mary saying, "Child! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you every­where?" (Luke 2:48 NLT). Never had Jesus done anything without his parents' knowledge. However, this time he had become so ab­sorbed in temple discussions that he hadn't given a thought about his parents or the return to Nazareth.

When Joseph and Mary found Jesus three days later, some­thing profound had occurred. Upset but also relieved, Mary said with emotion, "Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety" (Luke 2:48b). I emphasize here the word "father." Jesus had always recognized Joseph as his father. He was a good father, providing for him and teaching him God's ways. A pivotal change was about to occur in his relationship with Joseph. "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49).

With these words, Jesus takes the title of "father" from Joseph and very gently, but emphatically gives it to God. His experience in the house of God had revealed much to him. Jesus now knew what his parents had always known — that he was truly God's Son. God was his Father, not in the spiritual sense but in reality. He was God's Son, not in the spiritual sense but in reality.

What we have heard today is a story of recognition — the day Jesus discovered who he actually was. "Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them ... Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people" (Luke 2:51a, 52 NLT). Growth occurred for Jesus in three areas. Physically, he grew from a child to a boy to a man. Spiritually, he grew in communication with God his Father and in the practice of his Jewish faith. Above all he grew mentally in the understanding of his mission as the Son of God on earth.

Setting out as an adult to fulfill that mission, he took with him tradition and the need to change peoples' view of it. The time for change had come. God's law was to be observed for God's law was given for the good of people. But there were those who abused God's law, using it for their own gain. Historically, by Jesus' time, the religious leaders had turned the laws into a confusing mass of rules. Jesus revealed the hypocrisy in the hearts of the experts of the law. They told others to obey God's law, but they failed to practice it themselves.

Jesus did not speak against the law. He wanted to bring the people back to its original purpose. "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writ­ings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose" (Mat­thew 5:17 NLT). Tradition was changing — and the change was good. Jesus presented a new way to look at the law — to live not just with words but with actions.

Tradition — traditions are good. Tradition — traditions can be changed for the better. Try it. What have you got to lose? Let Aunt Bessie instead of Cousin Alma, who's always done it, host the Christmas Eve gathering after church. Have Uncle Alfred bring the cardamon bread instead of sister Frieda. He'd feel so appreci­ated. How about saving a turkey by eating a chicken? Maybe you could fit four small birds into those two small roasters. Or you could save on scouring pots and pans by putting really big birds into that really big roaster your daughter just gave you for Christ­mas. They'd be a lot juicier, and Papa likes gravy.

How about that Christmas tree? Remember the question? Should it be the traditional, real tree or is it time for a change? No matter if the tree is real or artificial, there's a tree that cannot be replaced — the Calvary tree. For it was on that tree Jesus suffered and died for our sins. The rugged cross that became a tree of death has now become a tree of life. This is most certainly true. And this is not an "artificial" truth. It's the "real" thing! Amen.