GO FORTH IT’S A NEW YEAR
Psalm 4
LUKE 8: 40-44
NEW YEAR’s DAY 2026
I went to bed after midnight … First I walked the dog and heard fireworks … I knew it was a new year; one we will call 2026. I watched the ball drop right at midnight perhaps not with the same excitement that I have experienced in the past … I kept debating with myself last night whether I was headed into the new year with optimism or whether I will need to cower, shiver, and withdraw. Then I climbed the stairs to my bedroom.
But before sleep, the words of a poem came to me … actually more than one poem … I scribbled some words of my own about the need to pick up a pen to start writing a new story in the coming days considering the 8760 hours of events from 2025 that I have just experienced.
I read and reread Longfellow on social media surprised to see that a church that focuses its mission on loving all of its neighbors and on bravely standing up for justice and even more importantly taking a daily stance against injustice had posted Henry Wadsworth’s thoughtful poetry to end the year … so I shared it too: “And, in despair I bowed my head. There is no peace on earth I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song. Of peace on earth good-will to men. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the Right prevail. With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Longfellow wrote that in the 19th century … and the world moved forward … God did not vanish and we were here beginning a new year together. Taking in the Table of the Lord … starting in worship but my challenged mind still wonders whether we can remain focused on God in this new year …whether we can stand strong in our faith … even whether faith matters more than the world’s “stuff” to friends of mine and feeling sad that so many in the world seem to want to punish the poor and attack the weak.
Yea, the world’s stuff and the attitudes of those around us. Perhaps that’s why churches are failing and shrinking, and families no longer are the backbone of our houses of worship. How many of us would do all we could to just TOUCH JESUS … reach out and accept that Jesus Christ could do miraculous things for us and through us? To make a choice of Jesus or God for the use of our time and perhaps even more importantly our opinions over worldly matters.
And, what does Jesus say … Jesus the Son of God …. Jesus Immanuel, God is with us … when that woman who had been hurting for so many years came trembling and fell before Jesus … what were his words … “Daughter, your faith has healed you … “ And, then Jesus added three simple words … GO IN PEACE.
I met with my rabbi this past Monday. Aaron Krauss will soon turn 96 years of age. He is still preaching at his synagogue. We have an interesting conversation about many things but I paused and asked him for his favorite Scripture. He began by giving me a lesson on Isaiah but quickly returned to my question, “David, my favorite Scripture is Isaiah chapter 2 verse 4 … “GOD will judge between the nations, and settle disputes of mighty nations. Then they will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning tools … nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war.” Aaron continued by saying, “this is a lesson about how we are to treat our neighbors … this is the essence of God’s call to us.” Aaron then asked, “David, who did Jesus say would become the children of God?” Yes, my rabbi knows the Sermon on the Mount … THE PEACEMAKERS shall be called the Children of God.
Jesus also said that His disciples would be known by our love not by how loudly we judge people we don’t like. Not by how many families we can separate from each other. Not by how hatefully we can mock others or put down folks unlike ourselves whether they are gay, black, Latino, or Palestinians. Jesus did not say we should support keeping prisoners from worship services instead He said to visit them. The essence of that Longfellow poem … peace on earth good will towards men … love our neighbors.
We have declared to the world that we are Christians … and as we start a new year with worship … we at the very least are connecting with God through Holy Communion … It is essential that we Christians start acting like we are the peacemakers who are known for our love, which is how Jesus describes those who understand God’s reality. Until people like you and me start to clearly live as God expects and Jesus taught the identifier Christian will continue to be known for hate, division, judgment, wealth, politics, and power.
The significant question for the start of the new year is whether we are willing, energized, and so faith-focused to be the peacemakers in our corners of the world who daily demonstrate a God-inspired love for all of our neighbors in this world especially those who are under attack because of who they are. Will we protect good families? Will we criticize words of hate and derision by using words that lift others up in love? Would we house Anne Frank from the Gestapo if we lived in those dark times?
In today’s Psalm, we heard a plea that very well might have been last night’s prayer from the faithful … “Set me free from my troubles God, have mercy on me!” It is interesting how the psalmist couches God’s reply, “How long, you people will my reputation be insulted? How long will you continue to love what is worthless and go after lies?”
Sounds like our times rather than their times but as we pause today … as we connect with God here in this moment of worship. I am ready to PRAISE GOD … sing Joy to the World the Lord has come … let earth receive her king but if we aren’t praising and we aren’t singing … how will our neighbors understand that God is here to be with us? The question will continue to be raised, “We can’t find goodness anywhere.”
So this is our challenge … to be the light of Christ. To allow Jesus to shine down on us and then through us. Let this season of Christmas continue to fill your hearts with … I will quote the psalmist … “with more joy than when their wheat and wine are everywhere.” Then we can lie down in peace knowing that in our days we are living as the peacemakers who love our neighbors and showcase Christ in our lives. AMEN