Resolutions for 2025
I often write an article on new year’s resolutions as we approach the end of one year and the beginning of another. Since today is December 31st, it is time for this year’s article.
Of course, people often make new year’s resolutions to lose weight and exercise more. I know I need to do both of these. God wants us to take care of the body He has given us. God shows that our bodies are something good when Jesus became incarnate in the flesh, conceived on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord and born on Christmas Day. If our bodies were not good Jesus would have never taken a human body. We need to treat our bodies well.
That being said, I encourage you to think deeper when you consider making a new year’s resolution(s).
For instance, we just celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family this Sunday. Did this feast, or perhaps your family gatherings for Christmas, point out to you something you need to work on in your family (see my reflection “Feast of the Holy Family – What Does It Mean to be a Family?”). Is God inviting you to make a new year’s resolutions concerning your family?
It might be to spend more time with your family. If you do not attend Mass every Sunday, is now the time for you to make God and the Mass part of your family every Sunday?
We have begun the new jubilee year (see Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, May 9, 2024 and my articles reflecting on the jubilee at “We Need Hope Part I , “We Need Hope Part II”, and “We Need Hope Part III”). Hope has also been a frequent part of my recent homilies.
For instance, I ended my Christmas homily with the following words, “I said before Jesus was born in a stable. Why? “Because there was no room for them in the inn.” You made an hour today for Jesus. Will you make room in your heart for Jesus every day?
Is God calling you to make a new year’s resolution to embrace the following words from the second reading for Christmas Mass During the Night, “and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age?”
In my reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent (Year C), I posed the question, “Do you give the Lord free and complete access to your heart and soul, or do you hold him at a distance?” Is God inviting you to make a new year’s resolution in response to this question?
Is God calling you to make a new year’s resolution to help others, fulfilling his command to love our neighbors? Is Jesus inviting you in the gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Advent (Year C) to feed the hungry, to stop overcharging others, or to the clothe the naked?
On the First Sunday of Advent (Year C), the readings called us to reflect on the Second Coming of Jesus. What changes do you need to make in your life so that you can joyfully await the Second Coming of Jesus?
The world needs hope. As you think about making a new year’s resolution, what would give you hope?
For me, I would find a lot of hope if the present wars in the Middle East would end. I would also find some hope if the fighting between Ukraine and Russia would end in peace.
I would find some hope if the politicians in our nation would stop the partisan politics and look beyond our differences to allow us to come together to care for one another.
These things would bring me some hope in this world. However, our ultimate hope is not of this world. Our ultimate hope lies in Jesus Christ. That’s why we look at baby Jesus in the manger and our hearts are filled with joy.
With this in my mind, my hope for the future looks to the day when the pews in our churches are once again full and people are living as our Lord teaches. This requires the grace of God and for people to truly open their hearts to Jesus. We can count on the former (the grace of God). I pray for the latter, people truly opening their hearts to Jesus.
So, is God calling you to make a new year’s resolution(s) regarding your faith, your hopes, and hope for the world?
Peace,
Fr. Jeff