The year is young, and
there's still time to make a New Year's resolution or to persevere in one
you've already made.
One study, by the University
of Scranton, put together a list of the top New Year's resolutions for 2014:
1. Lose weight2. Get organized3. Spend less, save more4. Enjoy life to the fullest5. Stay fit and healthy6. Learn something exciting7. Quit smoking8. Help others in their dreams9. Fall in love10. Spend more time with family
Many of the resolutions seem
to be about gaining or losing something. And indeed, the essence of life seems
to be about losing something to gain something better, as a way to happiness
and fulfillment. Maybe God has given us this longing in our hearts as a way to
find Him.
Some people forgo New Year's
resolutions, perhaps because they find them silly or useless or even
unattainable. As Catholics, we should embrace them. We are all about renewal,
especially renewal in Christ. From the day of our Baptism and every day after, we
are to shed our old sinful desires and put on something better, the garment of
Christ.
The white garment we wore at
Baptism is a sign that we are new creations, clothed in Christ. Every day, we
should resolve to live out our Baptism, to put on Christ, as St. Paul would
say, so others recognize, from our outward appearance, the presence of the Holy
Trinity within us.
"Put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh." Romans 13: 14
"For all of you who were
baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Galations 3:27
"But now you must put
them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your
mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with
its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for
knowledge, in the image of its Creator." Colossians 3: 8-10
Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.
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