Well, it’s official. This week I received my first email challenging me to make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. I wonder how they knew. But from now until the end of the year we will be hearing countless commercials about this diet or that weight loss program. Everyone of them will promise us that we can become thin and trim in just a few short weeks. Somehow the media has tied celebrating the New Year with weight loss. Nevertheless as the New Year approaches people will be talking about making some changes, some resolutions. It makes sense doesn’t it – a new year and a new you. But in reality I tend to think that although some people make these resolutions sincerely for most of us it is just a fun thing to do. We make these promises but we don’t really expect these changes in our life to really happen. We don’t really believe that we can become thin and trim in just a few short weeks. But as Christians we know there is something very good about reflecting on our life and seeing where we might make a decision, a resolution, to change, to grow, to break some patterns that we are not happy with and to start over again.
In the life of our Church this Sunday is like New Year’s Eve. The feast of Christ the King marks the end of the Church Year. The following Sunday we begin a new year as we begin the holy season of Advent. So on this eve of a new Church year let's decide to make New Church Year Resolutions.
What could our New Church Year Resolutions be? I think the best way is to take some time and reflect on this past year and ask God what area or areas in your life might need some change or improvement. Then have confidence that the Lord wants to bless us by showing us some areas to consider. And that our God will give us what we need to actually put these changes into action. But there is one resolution that we can all make. Our Holy Father has invited the whole Church to focus on the unborn as Advent begins. Pope Benedict is opening Advent this year with what appears to be an unprecedented liturgical focus on the unborn and the gift of human life. Next Saturday evening in St. Peter’s Basilica the Pope Benedict XVI will lead a First Vespers service and a “Vigil for all Nascent Human Life.” And the Holy Father has requested bishops and parishes throughout the whole world to do the same. In response to this invitation many parishes in the Archdiocese are gathering before next Saturday’s Vigil Mass to join their minds and hearts with the Holy Father and Catholics throughout the world by praying the rosary for the unborn. Although we all can’t be in Church next Saturday night we can all stop what we are doing and pray as one family.
And then let’s continue our resolution of prayer for the unborn throughout the season of Advent. Is there a better time to pray for the unborn than in this great season of Advent which culminates in the celebration of the most important human birth in the history of the world – the birth of Jesus.
May all of our New Church Year resolutions bring us true joy and peace throughout this New Church Year.
Mr. R,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to get us thinking about the new Church year! Perhaps we do focus more on our bodies (lose weight fast!), than our our souls.
The Pope has helped up with a resolution by suggesting we focus on the unborn and I am excited that our local churches are cooperating. In praying for the unborn we are reminded to pray for all stages of life and, as part of that - this might be a stretch - being grateful for our lives by keeping our bodies in shape.
So that email about losing weight? Now it means more to me. Thanks for that!