Starting the new year with a clean slate and a pure heart.

By Reverend Ternahan

 Many people mark the significance of a New Year by making what are termed “resolutions.”  The word “resolution” is defined as:  a determination, a pledge, a promise, a vow, showing purpose.  How many of us have made resolutions, year after year?  Sadly, many of them are soon cast by the wayside.  A colleague remarked recently, “I made a resolution ten years ago, which I have never broken.”  No doubt all our eyebrows went up in astonishment, knowing our own resolutions’ results.  Seeing our reaction, he continued, “My resolution was not to make resolutions!”

Well, I am not about to discourage you from resolving to fix the issues that are troubling your soul.  In fact, the purpose of this short article is to encourage you to reach out and fix whatever you have been unable to forgive.  But start at home:  forgive yourself for those negative feelings of anger and bitterness that may be poisoning your relations with certain individuals.  We start with the prayer of our Lord which asks us to forgive.  We remember the first martyr, Stephen, who begged that his murderers be forgiven-- even as he was being stoned.

Henri Nouwen wrote: “Reconciliation is much more than a one-time event by which a conflict is resolved and peace established…. When we dare to look at the myriad hostile feelings and thoughts in our hearts and minds, we will immediately recognize the many little and big wars in which we take part…. Reconciliation touches the most hidden parts of our souls.  God gave reconciliation to us as a ministry that never ends.”  This indicates it is a continuing process with all of us.

No doubt many of you have heard the expression, “to extend an olive branch.”  Most will recognize the first mention of the olive branch when the dove returned to Noah.  But the olive branch has other connotations as a symbol of peace.  The dove with the olive branch became a visual for the descent of the Holy Spirit.  The olive branch is mentioned in connection with the dove bearing it by certain classical writers.  But you may not realize that the olive branch is part of the very symbol of the United States of America.

The 1780 obverse design of the Great Seal of the United States, devised by the second committee of Congress charged to come up with a design, shows the eagle holding an olive branch with 13 olives.  The olives symbolize the 13 colonies.  In the other claw, the eagle holds a quiver of arrows.  This traditional symbolism is to suggest that the Congress, rather than the executive branch, holds the power of peace and the declaration of war.

Finally, may I suggest that we all “extend the olive branch” to someone with whom relationships have been strained in our lives.  I might make mention in closing that the two olive trees (olive branches in large form) mentioned in Revelation 11:4 have been associated with the nation of Israel and the Church, and are perhaps symbolic of heaven on earth.  These are true witnesses to God’s ultimate plan for mankind.