Today Christmas thoughts of eternity entering time in Jesus Christ give way to thoughts about time itself.
It’s New Year’s Day under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary and with this new day the calendar moves further into the second decade of the second millennium.
The bible says in the book of Psalms that we’re made for seven decades, maybe eight. I’m well through and have lived almost all my life by that reckoning.
How many New Year’s Days lie ahead for you and I?
Time like a never ending stream bears all its sons away. They fly forgotten like a dream dies at the opening day.
This morning we’re reminded that our time is running out and will one day carry us out as mortality wears us away. This last year has seen the last days of several parishioners. I think especially of Mark Mytton and William Parker. Our prayers this morning are with them and with so many who have passed on through COVID and with their families
We’re frail mortals. We should approach a New Year with humility because we’re from the earth and will return to the earth.
We’ve also grounds for confidence though. God loves mortals and desires to plant immortal life within them in Jesus Christ whose naming we mark today.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, says Paul he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.
What’s most important as I live my life in the days and years ahead is to possess the Spirit who gives life to mortal bodies in this world and the next.
Every Eucharist is a calling down of the same Spirit, upon the gifts and upon the people, making holy gifts and holy people.
Let’s welcome the holy and life giving Spirit as 2022 begins. He’ll be our main asset, the ground of Christian confidence to face the uncertainties ahead. Let’s give an invitation for him to empower us now in a moment of silence before we profess our faith together.
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