Do Not Mourn

"This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep."

 - Nehemiah 8

When Ezra the Scribe brought the word of the Law to the people, and read it to them (at the Water Gate), they were so moved that they began to weep. But the Levites said: "This day is holy to the Lord. Do not mourn or weep." And they were instructed to go out and eat fat, to have feasts and to have great joy.

In the Lectionary, we follow Christmas with Epiphany. It is a time, prior to Lent, when we should still be rejoicing, still reading the Good News, still feasting.

And the Word of God should, at this time, fill us with joy.

The Hebrews had gone some time since they were a devout people. The Word of God had been ignored, for generations. Imagine the people just mocking it, as people today mock the American Founding Fathers, and the Christian Scriptures. They had studied it enough to point out the inconsistencies, with mirth. 

But this only set them up to be conquered. And once humiliated for a generation or two, they were once again ready to listen and obey. 

And so it is today. You can hear the Word of God, and let it affect you harshly, so that your conviction makes you cry. Or you can rejoice that the Word is still here for you.

And so be it. Let your commitment be renewed . . . even if already you have departed from your New Year's Resolution. Stay in the Word of  God. And rejoice.