Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. (1 Jn 2:24-25)
A lot of jokes have been made about New Year’s resolutions. People joke about how many days, sometimes hours, it was before their resolution was broken. Perhaps it was because they were not really serious about their resolution to begin with. Perhaps it was because their resolution was too difficult. Perhaps it was because their interest in their resolution flagged.
Whatever the reason, a lot of resolutions never make it past the first few days.
Today is January 2nd. You might find that you are second-guessing some of your New Year’s resolutions. You might be thinking that they are not really achievable. You might think that they are not good enough.
That might be because you do not have a clear view of your goal.
John appears to be telling his people to focus when we hear his words in today’s first reading at Mass: “Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.”
What, then, is our goal? Nothing less than eternal life!
If eternal life is, indeed, our goal, we need to remain fixed upon the spiritual resolutions we have made for ourselves. We need to do more works of mercy. We need to set aside more time to pray. We need to spend time visiting the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. We need to be good, holy, appropriate witnesses of His love.
If we do all of that, we have no need to fear.
Do not waver in your resolutions. Remain fixed upon the goal and be inspired to serve the Lord.
FAITH ACTION: If you have not made spiritual resolutions for yourself yet for this new year, do so today. If you have, try to figure out ways to keep yourself motivated so that you may accomplish them.