FROM
THE SERVANT GENERAL
THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 25)
THE NEW YEAR THAT HAS COME
January
1, 2010
The first day of the new year
Today’s
readings
Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 67:2-8
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21
2009
has gone, 2010 is upon us.
This
year we have another opportunity to do God’s will,
to be His instruments of renewal. This year we again look
to living out our calling, that of being an evangelistic
and missionary community, proclaiming Christ to the world.
This is in accordance with God’s eternal plan.
According
to God’s plan, He sent His Son Jesus into the world.
The angel of the Lord told Mary that the son she will bear
is to be named “Jesus, because he will save his people
from their sins.” (Mt 1:21). Jesus was “the
name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the
womb.” (Lk 2:21). In like manner, according to the
eternal plan of God for proclaiming His Son to the world,
He raised CFC.[1]
When
Jesus was born, the shepherds came and “made known
the message that had been told them about this child.”
(Lk 2:17). What was that message? The angel had told them
that “a savior has been born for you who is Messiah
and Lord.” (Lk 2:11). This is the very same message
that we as CFC-FFL have been commissioned by Jesus to do.
The good news we proclaim is Jesus as Savior, Messiah and
Lord.
This
is amazing good news! It is the news that truly matters.
It is life-saving and life-changing news. It is news that
we cannot keep to ourselves. We must proclaim Christ! When
the shepherds made known the message, “all who heard
it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.”
(Lk 2:18). Now we are called to proclaim that same message
to the whole world. May all the peoples be as amazed as
we were when we ourselves were evangelized.[2]
We
continue to look to Mary as our model, as she “kept
all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
(Lk 2:19). On this very first day of the new year, let us
shake off the revelries of last night and reflect upon our
calling, our charism, our mission, our reason for being.
And let us act![3]
When we do God’s will, then we will be blessed. Last
year we were abundantly blessed by God. This year we continue
to look to God’s blessings. “God, our God, blesses
us. May God bless us still” (Ps 67:7b-8a).
Why
can we confidently look to God’s blessings? First,
because we have been redeemed by Jesus from our slavery
to sin and have been restored to our relationship with God
as His children. “So you are no longer a slave but
a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”
(Gal 4:7). A Father simply wants what is best for His children.
Second,
so that we can effectively become the instruments that God
can use. Our basic call is evangelization. In this work
we need encouragement, perseverance, zeal, as well as the
practical aspects of money, stable family life, commitment
from the brethren, support from the hierarchy, etc. In other
words, we need the grace of the Holy Spirit, who guides
us and accompanies us on our mission. Because we are children
of God, we are confident that He anoints us with His Spirit
in order to carry on His work. “As proof that you
are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Gal 4:6).
And
so we confidently look to God’s blessings this year,
in order that He can accomplish His will in us.[4] So we
pray: “May God bless us still; that the ends of the
earth may revere our God.” (Ps 67:8).
Indeed our most basic foundation is prayer. This is the
very first aspect of our covenant. It is fundamental to
our relationship with Jesus and to tapping on to the power
of the Holy Spirit. If we are to evangelize, we need God’s
grace, guidance and anointing. I have already repeatedly
spoken about our response of worship and evangelization.
The two go together.
And
so we continue to pray.
For ourselves, that we may be the effective witnesses to
Christ: “May God be gracious to us and bless us; may
God’s face shine upon us.” (Ps 67:2).
For others whom we seek to evangelize throughout the world,
to bring them into a personal relationship with Jesus the
Savior. “So shall your rule be known upon the earth,
your saving power among all the nations.” (Ps 67:3).
For all people, that they may know the one true God and
give Him the worship that is His due. “May the peoples
praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you!”
(Ps 67:4).
For the whole world, that the peoples and nations will know
God, submit to His lordship, and thus be guided by Him.
Only in this way can they experience the peace and joy that
they desperately seek and need. “May the nations be
glad and shout for joy; for you govern the peoples justly,
you guide the nations upon the earth.” (Ps 67:5).
As we start this new year, we turn to God in prayer, asking
for His blessings upon us. God told Moses to tell Aaron
how to bless His people, the Israelites. “So shall
they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless
them.” (Num 6:27).
We
are God’s people. God raised us according to His eternal
plan, used us, chastised us, purified us, and now continues
to send us forth as His instruments to proclaim Jesus to
the world. This is the very work of God. This is crucial
work that needs the anointing and empowerment of the Holy
Spirit. This is the great privilege that God has extended
to us, in calling us to be His evangelizers and missionaries.
And
so we invoke God’s name upon us and upon our work.
I
bless you in the name of God.
“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!”
(Numbers 6:24-26)
Have a happy new year! And make it happy for many others
as well.
*
* *
[1]
Among many other individuals, groups and associations of
course.
[2] As we have grown in the Lord, our amazement continues.
[3] Let us hit the ground running in this new year.
[4] We look to blessings not just as rewards but as necessary
for us to effectively do our work.
