Each Day is a New Life
In his homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, New Year’s Day, Pope Leo XIV expressed, “Thus, at the dawn of the new year, the Liturgy reminds us that for each of us, every day can be the beginning of a new life, thanks to God’s generous love, His mercy, and the response of our freedom.” This is a good reflection for us at the beginning of a new year, reminding us of the importance of each day and, indeed, of every moment. Each moment is significant, as Pope Leo states, for it depends upon God’s grace as expressed in His “generous love, His mercy, and the response of our freedom.”
Too many times, we can concentrate on the past and on the future and take the present for granted. It is the present day and the present moment that we possess, and in these we truly find the meaning of life. While it is important to remember the past and to learn from it as well as to enjoy its experience, it is in the present moment that we live. While it is important to look forward to the future and to prepare for it, it is in the present moment that we live. To live in the past or to live in the future is to live in a graceless moment, as God gives grace for the present moment.
One of the things that the present moment and day should bring us is peace. Pope Leo’s first words to the crowd that greeted him after his election as pope in May were “Peace be with you.” He reminded us a number of times on New Year’s Day of this greeting, and of how much our world needs peace today. As we look around the world, and within our nation, we see so much division as well as the turmoil of war in other countries and we realize the urgent need for peace. Concentrating on the present day, and the present moment is truly a way to bring peace to our own lives and to share that peace with others. While we will certainly not be able to settle the turmoil of division and war around the world, a person who is at peace, most especially with God, is able to share that peace with others, which truly can change the world. As Pope Leo expressed in his Angelus message on New Year’s Day, “While the rhythm of passing months repeats itself, the Lord invites us to renew our times by finally ushering in an era of peace and friendship among all people. Without this desire for the good, there would be no point in turning the pages of the calendar and filling our diaries.”
In his Message for the World Day of Peace on Jan. 1 this year, Pope Leo XIV also expressed that, “The Good Shepherd, who gives his life for the flock, has other sheep, not of this fold (cf. Jn 10:11, 16). It is Christ, our peace, who has conquered death and broken down the walls of the division that can separate humanity (cf. Eph 2:14). His presence, His gift and His victory continue to shine through the perseverance of many witnesses through whom God’s work carries on in the world, becoming even more visible and radiant in the darkness of our times.” These words emphasize that it is in the present day and the present moment that we live with Christ, and to recognize Him in these times is to bring peace to ourselves and to others.
At the beginning of this new year, we may have made certain resolutions we wish to follow through on during this year. However, the most important resolution is to take the present day and the present moment seriously, and to find it the peace of God, which comes to us through them. This is not always an easy thing to do, but to persevere in this resolution enables us to persevere in our lives. As Pope Leo expressed in his Message for the World Day of Peace, “Whether we have the gift of faith, or feel we lack it, let us open ourselves to peace! Let us welcome it and recognize it, rather than believing it is not to be possible and beyond our reach. Peace is more than just a goal. It is a presence and a journey.”
In his homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Leo emphasized, “It is beautiful to view the coming year in this way: as an open journey to be discovered. Indeed, through grace, we can venture forth on this journey with confidence — free and bearers of freedom, forgiven and bringers of forgiveness, trusting in the closeness and goodness of the Lord, who accompanies us always.” May each day of this new year be the beginning of a new life as we concentrate on God’s presence before us and bring that presence to others and to the world.”
A Blessed and Peace-filled New Year!
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito
