I recently read that only 8% of New Year’s resolutions last beyond one month. I have made my fair share of New Year’s resolutions. Life changes, busy schedules, new additions to the family (!) can all contribute to our chances of completing them. If you Google, “2019 New Year’s Resolutions” you will find people providing you lists of the best resolutions to make for next year. While I scroll down the page, I see articles encouraging resolutions for health, work, organization, money habits, the list goes on and on for “about 62,000,000” results. We haven’t even come to the last week of December and we already have that many opinions and experts on the topic? I scrolled through the first few pages of the results looking for advice on spiritual resolutions, and found…none.
Many of us have optimistically made resolutions at the beginning of a new year. Unfortunately, many resolutions tend to be self-oriented. What if our resolution for 2019 was other-oriented? What if our resolutions looked different next year? How would creating other-oriented resolutions lead to a stewardship way of life? Have you ever created a concrete plan to help someone else? Jesus had a plan. It was a plan that was undeniably other-oriented. Jesus approached those on the fringes. He embraced the abandoned. He served the poor. He comforted the sorrowful. He listened, prayed, and consoled those in need. He was intentional. What would such plan look like for us? Who around us is in need of assistance, love or forgiveness? Maybe they need your physical assistance around the house or maybe they just need someone to listen and pray with them. These are some examples of resolutions that lead to intentional discipleship.
As we enter into the Christmas Season, let us keep the warmth and light of Jesus’ birth at the forefront of our mind. Let us be a people-centered church; a community led by believers and doers. Let us lift each other up and reach out to those on the margins of our society. I pray that each of us can boldly live out the Gospel message this season!
Katie Price is the Coordinator for Stewardship at Cathedral.