Ready for a New Year

After our stormy beginning of the week, the sun has shone and temperatures have risen. The big snow drifts are starting to down-size. the new year of 2011 should begin with sunny skies, at least in the Boston area.
My prayer is that the gift of a new year of life will be the best ever for you and for me. I am reading a book called "The Reed of God" by the late English author Caroll Houselander. Even though the book was written in the early 1950's it is graced with a Christ-centered and very practical view of how to live "in Christ" in daily life. There are parts of Ms. Houselander's descriptions that disguise an almost hilarious wit. This is especially true when she details how some individuals live what they call a "spiritual" life, but only on a part-time basis. In other words, they are kind of half-hearted about following Christ. They follow him, but more or less on the sidelines, like a sports enthusiast keeping score for his or her favorite team, all from the comfort of a warm couch. This is my paraphrase of the author's wit.
In the new year, we may be asked to rise from our couches and invite someone to seriously consider returning to Mass and the sacraments, or to think about what the Catholic Church offers them. We may actually be invited to speak up about what we believe and why we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Christ may want to speak through you or me with a good, uplifting word, a compliment, a word of advice, or even an admonition. May we be open to what God wants us to do and say.
There is a saying that can accompany us this new year, "The will  of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot keep us."
May your New Year be one crowned with grace upon grace throughout the New Year!