Every year is a gift from God. He made us, and He sustains us. Each day we owe God our attention and our gratitude. That’s saying and presuming a lot in a few words.
The spiritual journey of your lifetime is lived out in the steps you take each day. A huge step is morning prayer. Prayer is lifting up the mind and heart to God.
When the disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them how to pray, He said, “When you pray, say Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. …”
What a meaningful expression of faith this is. Take your time when you say it. Allow a phrase to stand out. How wonderful it is to have a heavenly Father. He wills good for everyone. We should seek out His divine will as our daily game plan.
As a night prayer, the Our Father can calm our fears, bring forth our gratitude and enable us to help others across the globe. And what better ending to the day than to ponder how He has given us our “daily bread” and “forgiven our trespasses” and “delivered us from evil.”
When we remain in right relationship with our heavenly Father, we then know ourselves more clearly. After all, God gave us our identity as a unique, unrepeatable human being. Each of us is a son or a daughter. Many are parents who have the dignity of being called “mother” or “dad.” The Our Father teaches us right relationships.
Jesus is the God-man, Eternal Son of the heavenly Father, born into our world to save us from sin and lead us to heavenly glory. Pope Benedict XVI frequently encouraged believers “to look into the face of Jesus.” Receive His glance. Know His love. Accept His mercy.
With St. Thomas, the doubting Apostle, we should often say to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” We are reminded of this at every Mass, immediately before Holy Communion when the priest proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” Behold Him.
And we respond, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
This is a true relationship with God. It’s humbling, and it’s real.
In the New Year 2023, may your spiritual fitness begin with a “faith break” morning, noon and night. Your sacred “bread break” is at every Mass.
Be grateful for these moments. Gratitude will keep you humble. And humility will enable you to accept that God loves you and will keep you.
Father James Walter, who celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination this year, is a retired priest in residence at Lancaster St. Mark Church.