Happy New Year

The LORD said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:22-27)

It is January first, the new year to follow the past one of great difficulties, partisanship, division, even hate and racist behavior.  Notably, Catholics have become tribal and many one-issue voters.  We all had challenging perspectives at odds with many of our fellow neighbors we were supposed to respect and attempt to love, as Jesus taught us.  Like the LORD, we were to look kindly on each other and have our faces shine on each other.  We were to be gracious.  An appropriate New Year’s resolution would be for us to pledge to bless each other and give each other peace.  

One way to accomplish these objectives would be to take to heart the view of writer and retired teacher, Lawrence Brown.  He shared in his December 26 Cape Cod Times Commentary, “How does the world see Jesus?” this perspective: “Imagine a man found in the desert, near death. The Bedouins bring him to their camp and revive him…only to see him head back into the desert again. ‘What are you doing?’ they ask him. ‘You’ll die out there!’  But he replies that now he knows where the oasis is, he can only think of so many others, parched and failing, who must be found and led to safety.  He’s willing to risk his life for them.  Hindus and Buddhists see Jesus as such a person.”  

We of so many different religions must look kindly on each other and show respect and love.  When we do, we are blessed, and tribal thinking gives way to communion, peace, and safety.  That will make for a truly happy new year.

Deacon David Pierce