Every year on January 1^st the Catholic Church does something beautiful.  Those familiar with the Catholic readings know that we have a year A, B and C cycle and you usually won’t hear the same reading for another 3 years. There are a few exceptions to this rule and January 1^st is one of them.  The first reading is always from Numbers 6 22-27:

The LORD said to Moses:  
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:  
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:  
The LORD bless you and keep you!  
The LORD let his face shine upon      
you, and be gracious to you!  
The LORD look upon you kindly and      
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,  
and I will bless them.”

When a priest pointed this out to me, I was in love!! What a way to start the year – with this beautiful blessing spoken upon us.  A few years ago, I was working with a team on writing a mission statement for our company, and then it hit me.  I should really have one for myself.  If you have clicked around my blog, you may have stumbled upon it in the prayer section.  In honor of this new year, we are starting I wanted to share it here as well.

I waited until now because at this point, we are either well into (or not) our new year’s resolutions.  Let’s have a restart now in the middle of the month.  This mission statement I wrote is a prayer I have started my day with for a long time.  Sometimes like all resolutions I have fallen away from saying it, other times I start again.  But the words are with me daily in that I strive to live them and make them part of my daily life.  Below is the prayer, I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me and helps you put a new perspective on this “new year new you” philosophy. 

My Mission Statement

I am created for you!

I find my purpose in you.

I was created for praise of your Holy Name.

I was created to walk in Your light and grace,

To shine your light in the midst of darkness.

To be a beacon to guide others to you.

I was created to receive you and be one with you. 

To be aware of this oneness,

To open the doors of the tabernacle of my heart where I know you are enthroned.

To bring your blessing and anointed presence everywhere I go.

I was created to love you in all your children,

Especially the most forgotten.

I was created to serve you with every fiber of my being.

When I feel well and especially when I am drained and tired-

For that is when you call me most.

You drain the last dregs of me then refill me to overflowing

With your love, peace, joy, grace and forgiveness.

Jesus let me live the graces I was created for-

The anointing of my baptism; of Priest, Prophet and King.

Let me be fully one with you

And be filled with all the gifts of The Holy Spirit, 

So that through your signs and wonders I can bring souls to you.

Let my joy bring you souls

Let my suffering and tears bring you souls

Let my life be yours.

Use every last bit of me to sow seeds that you will harvest.

Let me be Love.

The definition of a mission statement is a formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual.

Have you ever sat down in prayer and asked yourself “what is my mission statement?”  What is it you stand for? Companies draft mission statements to ensure that all the decisions they make are true to their original goal.  In having a spiritual mission statement, you can ask yourself is this what God is asking of me? Does this decision draw me closer or farther away from God’s call in my life?  As we grow in the Spirit, we will find that our mission statement will deepen, I have tweaked mine over the years as new truths of God’s love have been revealed to my heart.  I challenge you to write your own or use or tweak mine to make it your own.  Then pray it daily.  Remind yourself of who you are and most importantly whose you are.