Another Year 

   As we come to the end of another year it is a good time to reflect on the year that is ending.  St. Ignatius recommends an examination of conscience at the end of each day.  A time to look back on the day and recognize the blessings we have received that day as well as the times we’ve failed in our efforts to live for God.

   I believe we should do the same at the end of the year.  Some quiet time spent looking back over the year can be an important part of spiritual growth.  We can recall the times God has blessed us; we can perhaps see that prayers we thought had gone unanswered were answered in some manner during the year.  Most important we can take stock of our successes and our failures as we have tried to follow the will of God in our lives.

   Tomorrow begins another year.  There will be resolutions made that will most likely be forgotten in a few weeks.  We will determine that we are going to do better in many ways this year, but that too fades from memory.  

   The only resolution or promise that truly matters is to serve our Lord as best we can each day of the coming year, aware that we will fail in that effort as well.  But our God is a loving and merciful God, full of forgiveness and our efforts please Him.

   Then next New Year’s Eve, God willing, we can again take time to review the year and see how well we’ve done. 

Time passes, but You are beyond time.

Our time on earth is short, eternity is forever.

May we be less concerned with time,

And more concerned with eternity. 

Amen