My dear people, every New Year comes with high expectations of new things and a heightened optimism to make the year better than the previous one. However, many times, after a few months into the year, nothing seems to change. The problem here is that we place our faith and expectations in the wrong direction. We focus so much on the New Year as though something magical, novel and ground-breaking would automatically happen in our lives just by mere crossing from one calendar year to another. Our faith cannot be in the clock, calendar, or the midnight service. Therefore, let us shift our emphasis from expectations that are based on mere sentiments and focus on all-important need to cultivate a new mind-set and attitude. If we continue in 2023 with the same old attitudes and mentality, needless to say, it’s just going to be business-as-usual. All the expected break-through, favour, etc will be a mirage. In other words, to continue in 2023 with an old mind-set, would be like putting new wine into old wineskins. St. Paul reminds us of what we need to do to get the desired transformation in our lives: “Let your minds be remade so that your nature will be thus transformed” (Rom.12:2). In other words, be transformed by the renewal on your mind. In our individual lives, families, parishes, archdiocese and nation, we pray for a deep spiritual renewal of our minds. More so, our eyes must be fixed on Jesus, the one who remains the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb.13:8).
Come Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Risen Christ, be with us today and always, Be our light, our Guide, and our Comforter, Be our Strength, our Courage, and our Sanctifier. May 2023 be a time of deep spiritual growth for us, Amen.
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