What will 2024 bring? As we take our first steps into this new year, the Church gives us Our Lady to be our companion. At the Annunciation, God asked Mary to venture into an unknown future. Yet her response was a faith filled “yes” to the Father because she was confident that the journey of her life was secure in the hands of God.
We look to Mary on this first day of the year so that she might inspire in us the faith and trust we need on our journey of life. Trust does not come easy to most of us. When we have experienced hurt, doubt, or misunderstanding, it is very difficult to have trust in the future. Instead, hesitancy and fear take over.
We would love to look into a crystal ball and see what is yet to come. That would be comforting, or at least we could summon up our courage to face the challenges ahead.
Today Mary’s example is before us. Like her, we must have the strong conviction that we are in the hands of God, a God who loves us and takes in interest in each one of us.
To be sure, there will be times when, like Mary, we are bewildered by the crosses that come our way, times we walk through life fumbling. But these are precisely the times we must trust, and keep going knowing that God is with us.
A while ago, I came upon a prayer for the New Year by the late Bishop Tonino Bello, who always preferred the title “Father.” I’d like to share it with you. Let’s make his prayer our own on this New Year’s Day, on this World Day of Prayer for Peace that is so sorely needed:
Here we are, Lord, before you, out of breath,
after so long a journey.
But if we feel tired, it’s not because we’ve come a long way.
It’s because, sadly, we have worn out our feet
on our paths and not yours, stubbornly, taking our own way
and not the directions of your Word;
trusting in the success of our tiresome plans
and not in the simple plan of trusting in you.
After the past year, we feel we can make our own
the words of Peter:
“We have toiled all night and have caught nothing.”
In any case, we thank you,
because by making us contemplate our poverty,
You help us understand that without you,
we can do nothing.
But there are other reasons, Lord, that demand our gratitude.
As we end one year and begin another,
we thank you for keeping us in your love.
Thank you for not only bearing with us,
but also helping us realize that we are your beloved.
Thank you for not giving up on us,
for you do not degrade us for our ineptitude.
On the contrary, you place within our souls
the desire to change which makes us see this new year
as a hopeful and favorable time to heal our troubles.
Strip us of every trace of arrogance.
Clothe us in the garments of mercy and gentleness.
Give us a future of grace, light, and love for life.
Help us spend ourselves for you.
And may your Virgin Mother soften our hearts
and make them unto yours. Amen.
