“No one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10)
“Sing a new song unto the Lord.” (Psalm 98:1)
“We have found the Messiah.” (John 1:35-42)

As we begin this new year the Psalm tells us to sing a new song! Shout joy, sing praise, blow the trumpets.  All the earth should rejoice in the Lord.  It is a new year.  We can sing a new song.  Let our resolutions include acting righteously and loving our brothers and sisters.

They seem like such simple ideas, such logical teaching.  How can we make them applicable to our daily lives?  Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose feast we celebrate today was able to live this way.  Her perfect sincerity and great charm aided her wonderfully in her work.  She truly acted in righteousness and loved everyone.  In order to do that she remained focused on Jesus and courteous and gracious to everyone she encountered.

My resolutions for this year are taken from selections from an article by Richard L. Weaver on leadership.  (I am sorry, since I received these second-hand I do not have the full citation.)  For me they reflect a very realistic way to live righteously and love our neighbors.

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self–centered. 
    Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. 
    Do good anyway. 

3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. 
    Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
    Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. 
    Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest ideas. 
    Think big anyway. 

7. People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. 
    Fight for a few underdogs anyway. 

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. 
    Build anyway. 

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. 
    Help them anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. 
      Give the world the best you have anyway.

Lord, Andrew was sure of your Messiahship after spending a very short time with you.  Help us to recognize your real presence in our lives and in all of our brothers and sisters.  May your Spirit fill us with courage and fortitude and aid us in following you more closely.