It’s January 1st, which can only mean one thing: time to make those New Year’s Resolutions.
These typically include things like exercising more, learning a new skill, de-cluttering one’s life, quit smoking, stop procrastinating, flossing every day (and not with extreme aggression leading up to your dental appointment), eating healthier (perhaps by not putting butter on your donuts), and the big one – losing weight (and I don’t mean by hiding it somewhere we’ll never find it). When it comes to setting resolutions, the sky is the limit.
Each year, millions of people set New Year’s Resolutions and here are some interesting statistics to back this up:
- 38% of U.S. adults set New Year’s resolutions
- 53% focus on one resolution while 47% have multiple ones
- 70% of all resolutions relate to physical health
But as many of you know, keeping those resolutions is an entirely different story. In fact, the statistics are quite alarming:
- Only 9% successfully keep their resolutions
- 23% of people quit by the end of the first week
- 1% will quit when you finish reading this blog post
- 43% expect to give up their goals by February
So why do our New Year’s resolutions fail? The main reason is all based on reality. While people want to achieve change, they have not chosen realistic goals, have not planned properly by making it a habit, or are not fully committed to them.
If living through a global pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t take our health and wellness for granted. We really need to look at our body, mind, and soul as we enter this new year.
As we reflect on today’s scripture for the Solemnity of Mary, The Mother of God, there are three simple resolutions that you and I can make that will completely revolutionize our lives in 2023. These are:
- Strengthen and deepen our relationship with God.
- Be kind to others – and ourselves.
- Be obedient.
Let’s look at each one of these through the eyes of today’s readings.
Strengthen and deepen our relationship with God
Our first reading tells us that God instructs Moses to tell the people that God truly cares for them (and us). God continually blesses us, watches over us, and is gracious to us. God loves us so much that he wants to remain close to us always. In any relationship, when you love someone, you want to be close to them and to spend time with them. It’s no different in our relationship with God. In order to strengthen and deepen that relationship, we have to make the time to be with God. This happens through daily prayer. Start small, just a few minutes at the start and at the end of your day. Then work your way to make your daily life a living prayer. Did you find success during your day? Take it to prayer and thank God for helping your achieve that success. Did you find yourself treating someone in a not-so-nice way? Take it to prayer. Ask God to give you the strength to ask for forgiveness and to change. We will only grow closer to Jesus if we resolve to spend time with him. When we do, we will discover the true feeling of God’s peace.
Be kind to others – and ourselves
In the second reading, St. Paul states that we are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters of God. Therefore, we are heirs to the kingdom through God. If you and I have the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) within us – and we do – then we should see ourselves as children in relationship to the Father. We, therefore, will inherit all that God promises – which is the fullness of redemption and eternal salvation. If we accept this, then we should be living differently. People should look at us and see that we have Christ within us, radiating from our very beings. This means that we need to be kind to others. We need to treat others with dignity and respect, knowing that they too are a child of God. Therefore, we must release any hatred, anger, resentment, or ill-feelings that we may harbor towards others. And we must also be kind to ourselves. We never want to talk down to ourselves or say that we’re not good enough. Remember that you and I are made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we are very good – because God doesn’t make junk!
Be obedient
This one is probably the most challenging resolution to keep. Why? Because we have trust issues. We want to be in control of our destiny, and that can only happen, or so we believe, by relying on ourselves. But as we heard in our Gospel, we need to trust in the greater plan.
The most touching line in Luke’s gospel is this: “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” What a beautiful reminder for all of us. God communicates with us every single day, often in ways that we don’t immediately recognize. Sometimes, we don’t realize this until we make time to ponder within our hearts. And when we take this necessary time to ponder, we may come to the understanding of what just happened and what God might have in store for us down the road.
Mary is obedient by listening to the message of the angel and completely gives herself over to God’s will. And we must do the same. When we are able to listen to the voice of God each and every day, and trust what we hear, we will free ourselves from the worries and stresses that weigh us down in life.
My sisters and brothers, today is the start of a new year and a new beginning because the first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you’re not going to stay where you are. May we resolve to strengthen and deepen our relationship with God, be kind to others as well as ourselves, and be obedient by listening intently and trusting in what God has planned for us. Write these resolutions down and make them a habit. If we commit to these every day, we will experience true happiness, holiness, and peace throughout the coming year.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Check out this prayer for the new year.
