Talk of making New Year Resolutions
has been a tradition going back many, many years, even centuries. There is always some talk about it and maybe
a lot of people seriously think of making such resolutions: I’m going to take off twenty pounds this
year, I’m going to start a journal this year, I’m going to visit old friends
more this year. Resolutions such as
these, as noble and well-intended as they are, rarely last beyond the month of
January. No offense to those who do make
such resolutions seriously and carry them out faithfully. Yet, such resolutions are talked about more
than made and fulfilled; let’s be honest about it.
Today is the
feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation to the world of the coming of the Lord
Jesus as our Messiah and Savior. How
Magnificent! This manifestation of the
Lord to us, we tend to confine as a part of the Christmas season celebration,
but the manifestation does not have an ending, not only the Lord’s manifestation
to us, but our part in that, namely:
that we are to share in the labor of continuing to make Him manifest in
our world today. To this end, I would
suggest making a few ‘Epiphany Resolutions’.
May I offer a few suggestions?
ONE: I resolve that this year I will sincerely
make an effort to spend at least a few moments in prayer each day. I will pick a quiet time, without the noise
of TV or such and quietly talk with the Lord, AND listen to what He wishes to
say to me.
TWO: I resolve that at least two or three days a
week, I will take a little time to read sacred scripture, the Bible. Each Sunday in the bulletin, we list the
scripture text for the Masses for that week.
Let this be a guide to help you decide what portions to read. You don’t have to follow that; maybe you have
your own favorite passages you would rather choose.
THREE: I resolve to share at least some part of my
time in community, neighborhood or church activities. We know that actions speak louder than words
and maybe some of our good deeds will help others around us to see the presence
and grace of God in action.
FOUR: I resolve to at least think about the call
that frequently comes through the bulletin or the pulpit announcements, looking
for more people to participate in liturgical roles: servers, lectors, special ministers of the
Eucharist, etc. Giving witness among our
brothers and sisters in our faith community is always a good way to share with
others.
Yes, I could
go on with a longer list of suggestions for such resolutions, but I’ll leave
that up to your own creative imaginations.
The important part of this message is that we come to realize that the
Lord, Himself, depends on us to help make him manifest in our world. A lot of the terrible things that have gone
on in our cities of late speak volumes to us.
Think of the
Beatitudes that we read in the opening verses of the 5th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, more
than enough food for thought.
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