HAPPY NEW YEAR to all !
Kathy Boh on 31st Dec 2019
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all !
CELEBRATING:
THE OCTAVE DAY OF THE NATIVITY
OF OUR LORD
SOLEMNITY OF MARY
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE
NEW YEAR’S EVE
The holiday season is hastening along. It’s not over yet. Tonight is New Year’s Eve. It’s a time to “ring in the new year”. Many will be celebrating in so many ways—some at parties (let’s stay safe!), some quietly at home, some waiting eagerly for the fireworks and the televised ball drop in New York City. Some even hold prayer vigils—in church or in home groups or quietly on their knees—to pray in the new year.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
New Year’s Day we celebrate the “Octave Day of the Nativity of Our Lord” and the “Solemnity of Mary”. We are still “waiting” another week for the “Epiphany” and the visit of the Three Wise Men—the 12th Day of Christmas. January 1st is also the “World Day of Prayer for Peace” on the liturgical calendar. So—we are re-printing St. Francis’ peace prayer below, from our October blog on St. Francis of Assisi.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI’S PEACE PRAYER
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving, that we receive.
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
THE COMING EPIPHANY
As we mentioned, there is yet one other holiday feast day coming—the Epiphany. Later this week, we will take another look at gift-giving through the story of the Three Wise Men.
What remains?
Well, tonight we may choose to pray—even just for a few moments—to ask the Lord’s guidance and blessing on this coming year. We may even generously choose to add many other prayers for so much else in need of God’s touch, leading and intervention,
Then what?
Simply to begin…
A new year… a new beginning… to receive the God Who made us and keeps things going.
(And again, from our Christmas blog:
Receive Him deliberately into our hearts and fully into each and every nook and cranny of our lives— and to remember that He is coming again—as King of... everything... King of kings and Lord of lords, manifested in all His glory.
We are exhorted to look forward and “watch for” His coming in glory—"soon", according to Revelation 22:20. We are also called to remember not to lose hope, and not to disregard our watchful perspective—even if His coming seems "delayed".
We are asked, by Jesus Himself, to keep our "oil lamps" full (of Holy Spirit oil) and not fall asleep... For we do not know the day nor the hour when He comes.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF OUR BLOGS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
(posted on this website, trinitychurchsupply.com/blog)
Upcoming is Part III of our series:
FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS—EPIPHANY