Daily Inspiration

“We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand. Let no one deceive you in any way. To this end he has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.”—2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17

As a Catholic, I often hear, ‘But that’s not in the Bible.’ Since the Church did not compile the Bible’s canon for over three hundred years after Paul wrote this letter, it depended on oral tradition not only to survive, but to spread throughout the world.

Catholics have traditions others do not follow because those traditions were part of the Church’s founding. Everyone knew them. In simple everyday terms, I liken it to a biker offering the two-finger peace sign pointed to the ground as he passes another biker. It is a sign of peace between brothers and sisters, and it means ‘Keep two wheels down’ as a wish for safety. It isn’t written anywhere because it’s been around since people first rode bikes.

Watch today’s saint of the day video