Blessings of This Past Year – Weekly Message for 12-29-15

Dear Fellow Digital Pilgrim, pax Christi:

Christmas is over, right? Wrong! In our Catholic liturgical tradition, which reaches back to the very origins of Christianity, Christmas isn’t just one day; it’s a whole season. And we are still in that season. It’s still Christmas! And so, you still have time to bask in the beautiful, powerful, transforming truths that this liturgical season communicates to us. If your Advent wasn’t as spiritual as you wanted it to be, don’t worry – there’s still time. Grab your mobile device, or your PDF printout, and sneak away for a quiet hour or two with the Lord, tuning in the rich message of Christmas as expressed in RC Spirituality’s Advent and Christmas Retreat Guides – all four of them are still available for free, right at your fingertips! You Matter, Starlight, The Art of Waiting, and The Hidden Treasures of Christmas.

I can think of no better way to begin the new year than by taking time with the Lord to thank him for the blessings of this past year. And there were many blessings, many times when Jesus came into your life gently yet gloriously, just as he came into this world in Bethlehem so long ago. Don’t rush into the new year. Savor the blessings of this past year, in prayer, in meditation. Give some more time to God between now and the soon-to-arrive beginning of yet another busy year. However little amount of time we are able to give to God, he will make it worthwhile. Jesus promised that:

Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you (Luke 6:38).

I will be spending December 31st in an all-day silent retreat, and will be in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on New Year’s Eve. I will be praying for you there, asking Our Lord to shower you with even more blessings in 2106 than he gave you in 2015. Thank you for being part of our growing family of digital pilgrims and missionaries.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas, and a truly happy New Year, I remain, gladly,

Yours in Christ,

Fr John Bartunek, LC