Psalm 44:1 NLT
'O God, we have heard it with our own ears – our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago.'
I was recently explaining to a young priest why my  train fares were discounted due to my senior railcard. Joking about my age and its benefits, he added other attributes that are to be appreciated that can come with age, including wisdom. Of course, getting old doesn’t automatically result in greater wisdom, but it can help.
There is a great wisdom accumulated over centuries by the Church and its members. In my youth, I was often dismissive of those who had passed through life ahead of me. I assumed my skin-deep understanding of God and his ways was sufficient for me.
Understanding is not built upon dismissing those who have passed through life before us. While I might construct a different perspective on history in contrast to earlier historians, I am not in a position simply to ignore their disciplined efforts in interpreting the past. Even though the Spirit still speaks today, God is not inconsistent, therefore there are many benefits to be mined from the wisdom of the Church fathers.
When life becomes rocky, even if we are skilled in Christian understanding and enjoy a vibrant friendship with God, we can feel overwhelmed by a storm. As we struggle to discern Jesus in the storm, we are invited to lean upon the wisdom of those who have sailed on life’s troubled waters before us. There is huge benefit in considering the testimony of others, and in trusting the traditions of the Church. After all, the Church is still here 2,000 years after Christ.
If you can hold on to nothing else, take comfort from the wisdom gathered by the Church over the years. My life has been deeply enriched as I have read the writings of the Church Fathers and chosen to have confidence in the testimony and tradition of the Church.
QUESTION: Have you acknowledged the value of the traditions of the Church and the stories of those who have remained stable in their faith, despite impossible odds?
PRAYER: May I grow in wisdom as I learn from the lessons of those who have journeyed in faith before me.

Released on 20 Apr 2020