They say that the more times you say the word ‘bunny’ within a breath or two of waking on the first morning of a new month the better the luck that will come to you in that month.

It is in Wikipedia.  It must be true?

I am sure most readers will now be laughing.  Of course this is only a superstition.

Note that the definition of ‘superstition’  uses words like ‘irrational’, ‘illogical’, ‘fearful,’  ‘ignorance’ and ‘idolatry’. Put simply, every one of these words is an opposite of ‘faith’. Since humans need belief in order to live happily and healthily, in the absence of ‘faith’ (experienced by Christians as the ultimate in rationality, logic and knowledge), the resulting vacuum of belief is all too readily filled with superstition.

In the absence of faith we have a need for horoscopes,and the occult. We turn to magic (where things seem to happen but they really don’t). We turn away from God’s miracles (where change and healing might be difficult to see and unfolding in God’s time but where it really does happen).

As people of faith begin a new month we know that God’s creation of rabbits (whatever their colour) is nothing more than a gift (if we are a child with the bunny for a pet) or a pest (if we are a South Island farmer).

And knowing that we are held in God’s loving embrace in every moment of every new month we have no need to turn to magic or the manipulation of superstition when the God of miracles is on our side.

Have a great new month!