It can easily become an end in itself, divorced form the purpose it is meant to serve. It can even become a substitute for a genuine relationship with God. It can become a bondage which prevents us from responding appropriately to exceptional circumstances and the daily initiatives of the Holy Spirit. However, Christian routine need not degenerate in any of these ways. It can be observed spiritually and flexibly, and such an observance will bring a peace and order that enables us to focus more constantly on the Lord.
Good customs build positive memories, and positive memories strengthen unity and sense of identity.
A weekly custom such as the celebration of the Lord's Day fosters this type of identification, not only within the family, but among the families of the community. Yearly customs can accomplish the same end. The greatest benefit of the Lord's Day celebration and similar customs, though, derives from their Christian significance. Family unity and identification are fortified, but this identity is rooted in the One from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. The Lord's Day celebration builds our family identity on the bedrock of God's redeeming work in Jesus Christ.