As I sit here in my office, I am still trying to finish my last-minute Christmas shopping (gotta love Amazon) and putting some finishing touches on our plans for Christmas. My hope for each of you, is that you have a peaceful and blessed Christmas, with time spent with family, and with our Savior. Still, I find that I also need to look ahead to what the coming year may bring and give some thought to what I hope to accomplish in the coming year. This is something I hope you will be taking some time to do as well, either before, or as the new year begins. We have our responsibilities and goals for home and family, and perhaps professionally to consider, but we also need to give some thought to our spiritual goals for the new year. My hope for each of us, is that we have a year of unprecedented spiritual growth, and that we receive the required graces to allow us to recognize the areas where we need to mature in our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. To be sure, this is not always easy, both in terms of the effort required, but also at least as importantly in our willingness to sometimes step out of our established comfort zones. To quote Saint John Paul II – “be not afraid”. In God, we have all the help we will need to accomplish anything, and he will hold us up in times when we struggle, if we will only allow Him to. This business of “pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps” has its place in some things, but it has no place in our relationship with God, or our spiritual growth. There is a reason Saint Paul state “it is when I am weak, that I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Paul understands that it is our humility and trust that brings us to reliance on Jesus Christ who wishes to hold up and strengthen each of us. To embrace this reliance is to embrace humility and wisdom, and to let go of arrogance and ego. It is also one of the most freeing, and spiritually uplifting things that we can do. Go forth this year, and in freedom, peace, and love, let God help you find illumination in your quest for spiritual growth, and achievement as you let Him guide you forward with supporting arms around you.
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Charles Zlamal
The Deacons Bench 