In previous meditation, we advanced a couple of reasons why people hold tenaciously to unnecessary traditions. For some, it is because they are afraid. In their vain thought they conclude that harm may come their way should they change the status quo. For some others, it is no more than meal tickets. These are people who benefit one way or another by keeping things unchanged. We can add a third reason. Canvassing for tradition may be born out of the desire to belong. The desire for social acceptance is a strong one in people. Where people think refusing a tradition will turn them to social outcasts, they may bow to pressure.

“It is not always fun to break with the past. Only we should consider being on the same page with God of greater prize than pleasing people in their traditions. “

Elizabeth experienced on a first hand basis what societal pressures could mean. At the birth of her long awaited son, she went ahead to name him John, a name indicated by the angel. Everybody kicked against it as we can see from our text. They felt the name was alien to their family tradition. Unaware of what the angel had said about the child, and oblivious of the fact that John represented a shift from the old order to a new one, they wanted the naming tradition in Zechariah’s family to continue unchanged. It was not until Zechariah signalled to them before they embraced the young child as John. It is not always fun to break with the past. Only we should consider being on the same page with God of greater prize than pleasing people in their traditions. Oftentimes, people fail to come to alignment with God’s current dealing either because they don’t have the will to disengage with what is obsolete or are under societal pressure to keep the status quo.