January 3, 2022

Happy New Year! “Resolution” literally means to “re – solve” - to solve again. Or as is the case with most annually repeating New Year’s resolutions, to fail to solve again. Which is why the same resolutions pop up each year and fail to be solved each year.

Much better and thoroughly biblical to have very low expectations of our ability to change. God can and does change us – deliver us – of course, but we cannot change ourselves. This is patently obvious.

Jesus says it this way. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday After Christmas – BCP)