Each New Year invites us to enter into the unknown. None of us knows what events will surprise us or challenge us in the year to come. If 2020 has taught us anything it is to live with uncertainty and look into the depth of our own vulnerability. It has surely made us aware of our desire for community; of the great capacity people have for kindness, for reaching out to others and of our ability to live more simple lives.
For people of faith what anchors us, what enables us to look to the future with hope and courage is our belief in the One who says in scripture, “I am constant in my affection for you.” Perhaps today as you read these words you will take a few moments of quiet to hear the Lord say to you, “ (Insert your name) … I am constant in my affection for you.”
These quiet spaces in our day when we reflect on a line from scripture or simply sit opening ourselves to God’s presence, are moments of encounter, moments of heartfelt communication that provide us with opportunities for spiritual growth. Knowing that God calls us by name and experiencing that love in the depth of our hearts is what gives meaning and purpose to our lives. God loved us first and as we love Him so too will He teach us to reach out in service of our brothers and sisters, as Pope Francis says, “entering fully into the fabric of society.”
The New Year is sometimes a time for new resolutions. Perhaps one of ours this year could be to know and experience Jesus in His Word, allowing His Word to live in our hearts so that we may act lovingly in His name, reaching out generously to those in need.
We enter into the unknown of 2021 entrusting our lives to God, believing in His love and mercy, attentive to the plan He has for us.
Marguerite Hamilton is a retired teacher and principal and a member of the Columba Community
