Are you resolved...?

Resolutions seem to be very fitting with the Christian life. In the ordination of deacons, the Bishop questions the candidates:

Do you resolve to be consecrated for the Church's ministry by the laying on of my hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Do you resolve to discharge the office of deacon with humble charity in order to assist the priestly Order and to benefit the Christian people?

Do you resolve to hold fast to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience, as the Apostle [Paul] urges, and to proclaim this faith in word and deed according to the Gospel and the Church's tradition?

Those of you who are prepared to embrace the celibate state: do you resolve to keep for ever this commitment as a sign of your dedication to Christ the Lord for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, in the service of God and man?

Do you resolve to maintain and deepen the spirit of prayer that is proper to your way of life and, in keeping with this spirit and what is required of you, to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours with and for the People of God and indeed for the whole world?

Do you resolve to conform your way of life always to the example of Christ, of whose Body and Blood you are ministers at the altar?

And prior to the ordination of priests, the Bishop questions the candidates thus:

Do you resolve, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the office of priesthood in the presbyteral rank, as worthy fellow workers with the Order of Bishops in caring for the Lord's flock?

Do you resolve to exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith?

Do you resolve to celebrate faithfully and reverently, in accord with the Church's tradition, the mysteries of Christ, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the Christian people?

Do you resolve to implore with us God's mercy upon the people entrusted to your care by observing the command to pray without ceasing?

Do you resolve to be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice, and with him to consecrate yourselves to God for the salvation of all?

It seems I already have enough resolutions to keep. Fortunately, I have never been one to make resolutions for the new year, nor have I ever been one to really celebrate the close of one year and the beginning of a new. The making of resolutions has never appealed to me partly because of my own laziness; I know that I am not likely to keep such resolutions so I see no real point in make them in the first place.

However, I know that there are many who do value the making of new years' resolutions (even if they know full well they will not keep them), so I wish to propose this as a resolution for the year 2007: to be messengers of peace.

In his message for the World Day of Peace, which is observed today, Pope Benedict XVI said: "Peace is an aspect of God's activity, made manifest both in the creation of an orderly and harmonious universe and also in the redemption of humanity that needs to be rescued from the disorder of sin" (3).

The Holy Father also affirmed that peace is "also a task demanding of everyone a personal response consistent with God's plan" (3).

Let us then resolve this year to be instruments of peace in the hand of God. Let us seek the path of reconciliation with our family and our friends, and with the stranger down the street. Let us resolve to follow ever more the closely the self-emptying love of Jesus Christ to sow the seeds of peace.