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Friends United
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December 2011
New Year's Resolutions
By William H. Mueller
Christmas reminds us of the birth of hope in the form of a child. This birth is described by John the Evangelist as “the real light that gives light to everyone; he was coming into the world.” (John 1:9*) In describing him thus, John is recalling the first act of a gracious God birthing the creation, making our lives possible: “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) At Christmas time we are close to the end of an old year. Might this be an opportunity to throw “real light" on our life to see what we have done that is good and what we have done that could (in retrospect) have been done better? Taking-stock of ourselves at year’s end is often referred to as making “New Year's resolutions.”
New Year’s resolutions help us create blessing and happiness. We are unhappy with some aspect of our life, be it overeating, under-exercising, too much isolation, worrying and so on. So we resolve to take steps to correct the way our life seems to be going in order to give it a better direction.
Can the Bible help? Yes, it can! In fact at almost the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry he gives us a list of what scholars describe as “a program of life, a list of desirable qualities or virtues” (New Jerome Biblical Commentary); they are the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10).
“Beatitude” simply means “blessing” or “happiness.” You might say that the beatitudes are the Christian path to happiness. What if we resolved this year to adopt one or more of the beatitudes? We could form some advices and queries that help us understand each of these better ways of being human:
“How blessed are the poor in spirit: the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:3) Do we understand that no one gets through life without reaching the limits of his/her endurance at some point, and that it is no shame to feel utterly defeated? There are so many examples of this truth in the Bible, it would be hard to enumerate them; for example, King David: “My strength is trickling away, my bones are all disjointed; my heart has turned to wax, melting inside me. My mouth is dry as earthenware, my tongue sticks to my jaw. You lay me down in the dust of death.” (Psalm 22:14-15) Are we afraid to feel like this? When we feel lost in our transgression and far from God, this beatitude is saying it is in such moments that we are closest to God. We need only reach out to God and the Kingdom of Heaven is ours! This year can I stay with uncomfortable feelings instead of running from them, and ask God and Friends to help me with them?
“Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.” (Matthew 5:4) “There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness,” says author and physician, Han Suyin. Can I let go of the habit of shaming myself and the bad feelings that attend this attitude, and become gentle with myself, thus attaining real strength for myself and others, receiving the inheritance I am due?
“Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:5) When I am sad can I simply accept the feeling instead of acting tough? For I have the right to mourn like anyone else, and be comforted for my losses.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.” (Matthew 5:6) I am empty inside, I am tired of filling myself with the stuff of this world and with my excuses; can I open myself to my Savior’s promise of food and drink, that will lead me to a life of “kindness and faithful love … every day of my life”? (Psalm 23:6)
“Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.” (Matthew 5:7) Can I show mercy to those who grieve me in place of revenge, and by my example lead them away from evil to “paths of saving justice as befits his name”? (Psalm 23:3)
“Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) Are we willing to let go of the childish idea that we are not pure because of what we have done? Jesus reminds us in this beatitude no one is “pure” in this sense. “Purity of heart is to will one thing,” says philosopher and theologian, Søren Kierkegaard. It is to be undivided, like God, not to be torn apart by competing desires, but to choose what God wants for us. We will know which it is, because when we choose it, we will see God
“Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognized as children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) In the New Year can I become a peacemaker? First, I resolve to make peace with myself. I will no longer burden myself with self-recrimination. I will learn to “walk humbly with my God,” (Micah 6:8) and he will guide me to paths of reconciliation. In this New Year I will seek to resolve conflicts peacefully, claiming my birthright as a child of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:10) Those who tell the truth are often opposed by the majority. This is seen in the lives of the Prophets and the “faithful remnant” so often pictured in Old Testament stories, people who faithfully follow God’s guidance in contradistinction to the majority of believers. Many people may not want to face up to their responsibilities towards God and others, to which the Christian tradition calls us. In our tradition, the Ten Commandments tell us our responsibilities: Live, doing no harm (Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 22:37-40). Give me the power to live faithfully following your path in the coming year as an example for others, thus realizing, one person at a time, God’s “kingdom … on earth as in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
*The New Jerusalem Bible is used for all Scripture references in this article.
William H. Mueller is a member of St. Lawrence Valley Friends Meeting in Potsdam, New York, an allowed meeting under the care of Ottawa Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. For more on the Beatitudes, read Jay Marshall’s The Beatitudes of Christmas, available online or by calling (800) 537-8839.