Newness with an Attitude

What is it in New Year that we welcome its coming by firework displays and a loud bang? Is it the coming of the New Year that we are celebrating about or the newness of the year brings? It could be both but I think the bottom line is we see in New Year a new chance, beginning and hope. But if it is all about new chance, new beginning and new hope that we anticipate in the celebration of the New Year, why don’t we celebrate instead the New Day? In this case we don’t have to wait for a whole year to anticipate a new beginning? The truth is each day can be a celebration of hope, chance and beginning because ‘change starts with a decision’.

For some people a new beginning starts when a child is born, or during a marriage proposal. For others it starts after a full recovery from sickness. Still for many of us it starts after completing a degree or landing an ideal job. This only proves that we are always aiming for a better and fulfilled life. And what better way to celebrate life than to do it at the beginning of the year. We lit fireworks or blow the paper made trumpet or play a loud music hoping that they could ward off the jinx of the past year.  We set and make a list of New Year resolutions in order to become a better person. In other words, we want to achieve the fullness of life.

But the celebration of New Year is not all about the list of things to do or goals to achieve but also an opportunity to show gratitude; to be thankful for all that had happened in the whole year both the good and the bad. Whether they are achievements or failures, merits or misfortunes we should be thankful that it happened because they helped us build our dreams, encouraged us to aim higher, allowed us to appreciate and understand that life is worth living for. Whether in sorrow or pain we should give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.

But who would know for sure that this New Year will be a better year than last year for you and me? How can we be sure that we will have the opportunities we long to have? Is it not that everything is hanging on the idea that things would work out smooth and on our favor? In this case we should approach the New Year with faith, trust and confidence in God. We should completely allow Him to manifest Himself to us and submit our dependence on Him.

And I believe this is the wisdom behind why the Catholic Church aptly made January 1^st the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Mary is the perfect example of a person who anticipates with complete confidence and trust in God. St Luke mentioned that Mary, kept everything in her heart for the Son born to her, infant as He is, already surrounds Him with marvelous things. From the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel announced that she found favor with God, to her visit to her cousin Elizabeth who greeted her ‘blessed are you among women’, to the birth of her Son, to the time of Jesus’ circumcision where Simeon announced to her that ‘a blade will pierce’ her heart, to the finding of Jesus in the temple, to the wedding at Cana, and at last at the foot of the Cross, Mary finally understood the things she kept in her heart. It took thirty-three (33) years for Mary to understand her ‘Fiat’ to God.

And so as we approach the New Year, let us be reminded of the attitude our Blessed Mother exhibited as she confronts the uncertainties of life. Like Mary we should be observant, silent, uncomplaining. We should be Observant not on other people’s business but on the needs of other people; observant not to the point of meddling or trespassing but understanding the wisdom why things happened that way.  We should maintain a Silent approach to life because God speaks to us in silence. The world already has an unbearable noise brought about by people who do not know how to shut up their big mouths. We should exercise Appreciation rather than complaining because he/she complains will never finish the race. And even if one finished the race it will be a bitter and sour victory because he/she did not enjoy the race, because one is busy ranting and complaining.

Instead may we heed the commandments of God, as in the first reading, to approach the New Year with a blessing, gratitude and prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace. The Lord makes His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.” With such attitude we are sure we are in good hands, and that there’s nothing we can’t accomplish with God.

Happy and a grace-filled Year 2011 and beyond!