2016 push button. Concept of new year, two thousand sixteen.
At this time of the month, a reservation is almost necessary to ensure a spot on a treadmill or an elliptical trainer at the local fitness center. Driving such feverish attendance are all those New Year’s resolutions still brimming with enthusiasm, hope and determination. Self-improvement “to-do” lists brim with new ideas for the New Year: Diets, fad-exercises, green plankton puffy drinks for breakfast…you name it. But consider this step for improvement: HOLINESS. But holiness cannot be achieved on our own; holiness comes from God because God is holy (Lev. 11:44). He is infinite perfection in all aspects and is love itself (1 Jn 4:16). Holiness requires a relationship with God and love for our neighbor (1 Jn 4:20).
There is no doubt that some will feel discouraged with this attempt to be holy because of past failures. So perhaps a different approach would help. Read this slowly: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). This world was and is a fallen world, and he loved and loves us even in our weakness. He’s not afraid of our weakness for he knows his grace is enough (2 Cor. 2:9). He wants us to believe in ourselves, in our worth in his Father’s eyes and live according to that dignity. It is in him that we have life and that to the full (Jn 10:10).
So to address this desire with results, commit. Pray daily. If you’d like a little kick-start, try this link to Daily Meditations, which I have found to be very helpful. Spend 15 to 30 minutes weekly before the Blessed Sacrament in a church or chapel. Finally, be a loving person. Far from being warm and fuzzy, this is a challenging proposition. It means imitating Jesus’ forgiveness, mercy, charity, joy, patience…Love attracts love. And genuinely caring people are far more likely to find love and the love of their life.
