Christ is Born! On the Last Day of the Year:

 

Christ is Born!

On the Last Day of the Year:

The Book of Ecclesiastes famously reminds us that “there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ec. 3:1). Thus, there is a rhythm to life, to the seasons of the year, to each day in fact – from its dawning to its close –and even unto the history of the world.

There is also a rhythm to our spiritual life: a rhythm to the liturgy of the Church, to reading scriptures, to saying our prayers throughout the day.

As we witness the remaining hours upon this concluding day of the year, we know that tomorrow, of course, will offer us a new beginning; new opportunities as we delve into yet another New Year. It gives us pause to think. To remember what has gone by and what we have let slip by. And since the new develops from the old, it does not spring into being out of nowhere, we must either grow from this past year, or at least learn from it.

Therefore, because we are people who need encouragement and a mantra to help motivate us, let us take up and use this simple analogy from St. Herman of Alaska – our first American Saint: “From this day forth, from this very hour, from this very minute, let us love God above all else and seek to accomplish His holy will!”

Fr. John