Dear Friends in Christ,
As the New Year begins, often we seek to make resolutions that we hope will improve our lives. The positive aspect of this is that in making our resolutions, we exercise our will for doing good. The negative aspect is that often, not too far into the New Year, we fail to keep our resolutions and we become discouraged with ourselves. In this discouragement we learn that keeping resolutions is not merely a matter of willpower. Rather, it is a matter of grace working in us to bring us
to perfection.
We recently began the New Year reflecting on Mary, Mother of God whose solemnity was held on January 1. Our Lady’s holiness comes from the fact that God preserved her from original sin and she had no personal sin in her life. It also is reflected in her great humility. In Luke 1:38. Mary responds to the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Although Mary does not understand how the plan
of God will be fulfilled through her, she gives her trusting ‘yes’ to God in her fiat. This trust is in God and not in herself. Mary places her faith in God and believes that He will accomplish His plan in her life through His power.
God’s grace comes to us when we ask for it through prayer and our participation in the Church’s
sacramental life. Grace has been defined simply as ‘God’s help.’ Grace strengthens our resolve to avoid sin and remain faithful to God. It encourages us to hope and trust in God’s love for us and gives us confidence that God is with us even if we fail. It is through God’s grace working in us, combined with the right use of our human freedom, that we can keep our good resolutions.
As we begin 2023, let’s together seek out God’s grace, admitting in humility that we cannot improve by relying merely on our own power. May Mary, Mother of God, help us always through her prayer and maternal care.
In Christ,
Fr. Michael