In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
Around this time every year, everyone is super excited to think about the new upcoming year and everybody wants to talk about the new things that they wanna see in their life as they hopefully see a change in certain aspects of their life. And this is the time when most people wanna make promises.
They wanna make promises to themselves. They wanna make promises to others that they love. They wanna make promises to God. And they hope that they can make a New Year resolution. And in doing so, we wonder why is it that every other year in the past, we've made promises to ourselves and we failed, and can this year be different. Well, let me share with you some of the wisdom of the Church when it comes to making these kinds of promises.
It's wonderful that we desire to see change. It's wonderful that we say: this year, I wanna pray more; this year, I wanna be more dedicated in my reading of Scripture; this year, I don't want a week to go by without me attending liturgy and taking communion; this year, I wanna confess more, I wanna fast better, I wanna serve wholeheartedly, I wanna be more charitable, I wanna stop that specific behaviour, that addiction that I have.
These are all wonderful things, but words in and of themselves don't bring about change. And I'm sure you will all agree with me that saying something, speaking it out loud doesn't make anything happen in and of itself. If our actions are not aligned with our words, then surely we will fail. To want something is not the same as putting in the effort so that something can happen.
I wanna bring you back to the parable of the prodigal son. In Luke, chapter 15, after the prodigal son comes to his senses, the evangelist writes to us and he tells us that in the parable of Jesus, the son, at some point, says:
'' 17 '' (...) 'How many [how many] of my father’s hired servants have [more than] enough [to eat] and [even] to spare [while I sit here and I waste away].'' (Luke 15:17)
So, what does he say? He says:
'' 18 I will arise and [I will] go to my father, and [I] will [tell] him, ''Father, I have sinned against heaven [in your sight], 19 (...) I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.'' ' (Luke 15:18-19)
He says these things, but them immediately after, the parable records and says:
'' 20 “And [so] he arose and [made his way back] to his father... '' (Luke 15:20)
It's one thing to say that you want to do something and it's another thing to put it into action. So, this year, as you end 2023 and you begin to think of the changes you want to see in 2024, this is a good time for us to think of the things that we want to change, but it also requires for us to turn to God and to say: I don't want my words to be empty; I want my actions to align with what it is that I am praying for as far as change.
And this is where we have to recognize. It's wonderful that the intention of our heart is repentance. But I encourage you. Turn to God and say: Lord, help me build a plan. Help me, Lord, to follow through. Help me to have a spirit of perseverance and long-suffering, one where I can consecrate myself to make sure that I achieve the goals that I have set that align with your will.
The Lord says, in Matthew, chapter 19, when speaking about how it is that it's so difficult for a rich person to enter into the kingdom, the disciples ask Him, so how, how, how can anyone enter at this rate. The Lord says:
'' 26 (...) ''With men [it] is impossible, but with God, [nothing is impossible].'' (Matthew 19:26)
So, I encourage you. Go ahead and say and use words to express the change that you want. But immediately, align it with a plan that you hope to follow through with, and then, bring it to God. And as you bring it to God, tell Him: Lord, here is my plan and here is the desire of my heart. Now, Lord, help me fulfill it. And then go to action.
Immediately turn and do what you have to do. Arise like the prodigal son did and go back to your father. Begin to take the steps necessary every single day. Don't worry about whether or not you'll still be on track in six months. Only make sure that today you are faithful. And if we can do this, if we can be faithful in the little that is expected of us today, then surely, eventually, by God's grace, we will have the victory we need and we will see changes.
May the Lord grant you to be able to have the successes that you need in Him and may this New Year be a source of blessing to you and all your loved ones.
To God be all glory now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.