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1st Kings 3:5-14, James 4:13-17; 5:7-11, John 5:1-15, Psalms 46 & 48
How did that happen?
What great readings we have for New Years Eve Day. We have Solomon asking for and receiving from God "an understanding mind to govern" and an ability to "discern between good and evil". In James we are exhorted to pay attention to today and what happened yesterday and not get lost in dreams about tomorrow. And in John we are provided with Jesus' healing of the individual on the Sabbath who has been ill for 38 years and Jesus instructs him not to sin again.
A discerning mind, be aware of where we have been and where we presently are and an instruction to not sin again, to live a good life. What does it mean to not sin and live a good life? It seems to me that in order to do that we can learn from Solomon in asking God for a discerning mind, and to listen to James by seeking an understanding of where we have come from and what we have done, and to live in the now, not in some future, hoped for world.
Although not a terrible idea to plan and move towards a goal, it is so easy to get lost in those hopes and dreams and lose the reality of where we are, who we are and what we are doing at the present time. On this New Years Eve day, scripture is asking us to look back on this past year, and figure out what happened, how'd we get to where we presently stand, to acknowledge those things, both good and bad, to live in the present and to live a good life. All these things are a tall order.
A good life is one that is based on understanding ourselves, our surroundings, our motivations and desires and a constant movement towards God: a movement that is toward Jesus, always aware of where we are and where we have been. Yes a tall order, but it is a better effort then meaningless resolutions.
Happy New Year.
Copyright: The Rev. John F. Dwyer, 2007
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