It’s Old Year’s Day for much of the world though in Britain we call it New Year’s Eve.
31st December marks the end of 2022. It looks to the beginning of 2023.
At St Richard’s every day is new because Jesus Christ is ever new. He’s the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The day-by-day newness of Jesus has been evident these last 365 days to us as Christians. We’ve seen it as Jesus covered our sins and negligences and opened up his possibilities again and again to us.
It’s been a tough year for many people and it’s getting tougher as the recession takes its toll upon us and the cost of living rises.
When the pressures are on us we find out what we’re really made of. If Jesus had a real purchase on our lives this last year we’ll be able to look back with gratitude to him.
Can you say thanks that you were able to forget your own needs and go out of your way to care for friends and neighbours in greater need?
Old Year’s Day says farewell to 2022. As Christians we do gratefully.
The Lord invites us in his word ‘to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us all’. (1 Thessalonians 5.18)
As 2022 ends we can counter dismay by thanking God at this altar, as the Book of Common Prayer prays ‘for our creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life but above all for his inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace - especially daily Mass - and for the hope of glory’.
Or as a Free Church hymn invites - and we will take up the invitation now in a time of quiet:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!
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