NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

On the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, another Church year ends, and a new year will be upon us. It’s a good time to look back and examine our conscience and our lives to see if we have truly treated Jesus as our King. Is Christ the center of every part of our lives?

Our reflection needs to start with the basics. Have I made every effort to go to Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation on a consistent basis, or have I let worldly desires and activities keep me away? Have I participated in action and in thought? Have I brought my prayers, service, and my very life to the foot of the altar? Mass is not a spectator sport.

The sacraments are great gifts that are meant to be used. Has pride kept me from the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Have I missed being Confirmed? Do I need to have my marriage convalidated because I have gotten married outside the Church? Jesus longs to share His divine life in all His sacraments.

Do I have a personal prayer life? Do I have a daily routine? There are many Devotions offered in our parishes, like Stations of the Cross, Adoration, the Rosary before Mass, and Rosary Processions which help to build our relationship with Jesus. The liturgical seasons help us to connect to Christ and to each other in prayer and worship.

There are many other opportunities to grow in Christ. The Day of Prayer, the Adult Formation Speaker Series and the Couples Night cover topics about the Catholic Faith. Adoration and Votives and Vigils are times to come and sit quietly with our Lord. We have Women’s study and Bible study. Maybe this is a year to try a service organization such as Christian Women or Knights of Columbus or to help with the many parish service projects.

As parents, have we lived up to the Baptismal promises we made to raise our children in the Faith? Our children belong at Mass. Children can’t always sit still. They cry, make noise, are sometimes distracting, but they are welcome at Mass. Remember practice makes perfect and it helps when faith is practiced at home. Have you made your home a Domestic Church by praying with your children and talking about faith? Our homes should look and feel like a place where God is present and worshipped.

Do I take Jesus out into the world? His love should be evident in the way I treat my co-workers, classmates, strangers, and friends. Have I done anything to help the sick, the lonely, and the poor?

Jesus is not a King that asks for perfection. He asks that we surrender our hearts and will to His sovereignty. When He is the center of our lives, we can receive the gifts he is longing to give—His peace and His Divine Life. Make a resolution now. Let’s shout together, “Viva Cristo Rey; Long Live Christ the King!”

Deacon Gary