New Years Resolutions?

Every year, it seems, we are inundated by the question, “What’s your New Year’s resolution?”  You will hear from your friends that this is the year they are going to get in shape, by a new car, repair or end bad relationships, buck for that promotion at work, take that dream vacation, etc.  The resolutions are usually about self-improvement - but the most important area of self-improvement that we rarely hear about is how we are going to improve our relationship with God.

 

Why is it that when we are in trouble – the first thing we do is to go to God with our needs and worries, but when God calls us through His Church and the sacraments, we seem to forget about Him?  For too many of us, the extent of our relationship with God is to attend mass on Sunday – when we can fit it into our schedule.  We forget that we are required to attend Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation.

We sometimes fall into the non-Catholic fallacy that all we need to do is go to God with our sins confess in private – forsaking the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  We must remember that on no less than three occasions in the Gospel, Jesus gave His Apostles, who were the first leaders of the Church, the power to bind and loose – to forgive or retain sins (Matt. 16:18-19, Matt. 18:12-15, John 20:21-23).  When we are in a state of mortal sin – we are cut off from God’s grace until we confess that sin to a priest.

It’s never too late to get closer to God - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit by making changes in our lives. Here are some New Year’s Resolutions to consider that may be truly life-changing:

- Attend mass at least every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation with our families

- Go to Confession once a month

- Become actively involved in the Pro Life movement to end the abomination of abortion

- Join a parish Bible Study

- Attend one or more parish-sponsored workshops

- Consider joining a parish Ministry by becoming a Lector, altar server, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, joining the choir or one of the many other ministries

- Join the Knights of Columbus

Finding a New Year’s Resolution can be as easy as browsing through the Sunday Bulletin . . .