New Year, New Life
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
“All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.”Ps. 98
We wish that getting a new life was so easy, but we realize that it is not, that we only achieve what we sow, what we go cultivating day by day, the values that we learn to appreciate and practice are those that grow in us and not others.
The pandemic has also shown us this reality. It would have been desirable that many more had come closer to God before the adversity, seeing disease and death abound and prowl everywhere. It would have been desirable and understandable that not only those who were already assiduous practitioners of the faith, but also those who did not come close to God, in the face of adversity would have come closer to Him, but unfortunately it was not like that, in fact, there are many who have moved away.
And it is that the influence of the enemy in the world is great, and he has managed to get many to give their backs to God in such a radical way that they do not even contemplate the possibility of his assistance in adverse times, nor of his existence… God was taken out of their minds, excluded from their sight. Many without faith have excluded him from the media and from public spaces and have relegated it to the field of private beliefs of each person.
In this change of year it would be good to review the place we give to God in our life, what place we would like to give him, where we believe he belongs and should have. What place would you like to have given him at the end of your days in this world? Today you are in time to help God gain space in your life and in your heart.
“Do not be deceived: no one mocks God. Each one reaps what he sows.”Galatians 6, 7-8
It is time to take stock, as in companies, review what comes in and what goes out, to see if there is a balance in favor. What are you letting into your mind? Because that is what will configure it, to heal or to make it sick, to make it bearer of good fruits to give and of blessings, or of poison and pestilence.
Lord, we entrust this new year to you, that you be the Light that guides us, that you like our openness of heart so that you continue giving us the growth that you want to give us, because we need it to have Life.
“Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”1 Thessalonians 5,21s
Readings for the Week
Monday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28
Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:29 — 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34
Wednesday: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42
Thursday: 1 Jn 3:11-21; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 4:14-22a
Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-28 [23, 31-34, 36, 38]
Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Sal 149:1-6a, 9b; Jn 2:1-11
Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; World Day of Prayer for Peace; New Year’s Day
Monday: Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen
Tuesday: The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Wednesday: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Thursday: St. John Neumann
Friday: St. André Bessette; First Friday
Saturday: St. Raymond of Penyafort; First Saturday; Julian Calendar Christmas