Well the new year is upon us and with the new year come the resolutions. Have you made any?
Four consistently popular New Year’s resolutions are:
-Lose Weight
-Manage Debt
-Save Money
-Get a Better Job
Is your resolution on the list? Resolutions can be very good, but should be kept in perspective. Your ability or inability to keep your resolution does not dictate your worth.
I would like to take you back to the man Simeon, from Luke chapter 2, “At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.” Did you hear Simeon’s resolution for the new year? He he was waiting for the Messiah.
Simeon simply wanted to see Jesus. I think that is quite a good resolution. You know, you can still see Jesus. That is the message of Christmas. God became man and is still with us. We see Jesus as he speaks forgiveness to us through the pastor in Church. We see Jesus in the least of these as he uses his people to provide– as we say in one of Arcadia’s meal prayers–“a goodly share on every table everywhere.” We see Jesus as we receive forgiveness through His body and blood in the Holy Eucharist.
That very same baby who was born in Bethlehem, who died on the Cross at Calvary for you and for me, rose again! We are free. Free to make resolutions. We are also freed to live as his beloved children–even if we are overweight, broke and in a dead end job. In Christ our existence has been justified so that we need not work to justify our existence.
God’s Peace to you,
Jason Bauer, Program Director
