Tradition calls for us to start the New Year by making resolutions – usually things that we break or forget before the last down of the last college bowl game.  Most of us won’t lose 15 pounds, run a 10K or cease making snide remarks about annoying Uncle Harry.

But there’s something about the New Year that encourages us to consider changes in life.  This is a theme running through today’s joyful readings.

They call us to celebrate a new life in God.  The beautiful reading from Luke tells of the wonder with which the shepherds greeted the Child.  St. Paul reminds us of the reason for this birth and its effect on us – that God sent Jesus to transform us from slaves into Sons (in a more politically correct era, I KNOW he would have said “children”) and thus heirs. 

In other words, this is a time for rejoicing and new beginnings. 

I’ve often been struck by the negative tone of most New Year’s resolutions.  I think we should be concentrating on ways to celebrate the great gift we received at Christmas rather focusing on some relatively minor defect that we probably won’t correct anyhow. 

Here are a few possible New Year’s resolutions to consider:

• Worry less so we may enjoy the peace God has promised. 
• Laugh more and complain less.
• Remember that often the greatest joy in life comes from serving others.
• Share more “good news” with others and act as if we really are the “heirs” to good news. 

Happy New Year.