A New Resolution

2015 has arrived and we are at the beginning of another calendar year. It has become tradition for us to make New Year’s resolutions, making promises to ourselves of changes we’re going to make in the year to come. A new year marks a new beginning and a time for improvement. Some of the more common resolutions include losing weight and getting in better shape, perhaps quitting smoking or some other bad habit. All of these resolutions are admirable and, if kept, will improve our lives. Perhaps via the ripple effect, they may even have a positive effect on the lives of those around us. For the most part, though, most New Year’s resolutions are about ourselves.

This year, maybe we should think differently. What if we made our resolution less about ourselves and more about Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbor? Throughout the Gospel, Jesus makes it clear that we will be judged on how we treat each other; yet whenever we talk about needing to make a change, how often do we think about making changes in the way we treat others?

Let’s challenge ourselves to start small. What if we offer a smile to everyone we encounter?  When someone’s trying to change lanes on the road, perhaps we are courteous and let them in rather than speeding up to try to block them. We can take a few seconds to think before we speak so that we don’t say something that might be hurtful. How about showing genuine concern for all of the people who provide customer service for us on a regular basis rather than taking them for granted? These things may not seem like much, but it is our way of being a reflection of Christ’s love to others.

In 1968, the Catholic Church recognized January 1 as a World Day of Peace for the first time, and it has been recognized ever since. Possibly the greatest individual contribution each of us can make towards the cause of peace lies in how we treat each other. If every one of us just resolved to do the small kindnesses listed above as a bare minimum, wouldn’t that be a great start?

I wish everyone a happy and blessed 2015, and may the light of Christ shine in all of us.