There is something psychologically refreshing about the New Year. This fact is seen by the many ways that people begin again on January 1, most commonly by setting goals. Their reasoning is aided by the resetting of the calendar year: 2015 is over, and now we can look ahead to a healthier and more productive New Year.
The year 2016 begins just less than one month since the Church began the Year of Mercy. Along with any goals we may have for 2016, the Year of Mercy invites us to set spiritual goals that will enable us to receive the many graces that this Year promises to bring.
Two spiritual goals seem appropriate: The first goal is to forgive those who have hurt us. This may not be high on peoples’ priority lists because forgiving those who have hurt us is one of the most difficult things to do; however, is not this Year of Mercy an invitation to seek God’s grace to be liberated from the burden of an unwillingness to forgive?
The second goal is to commit to living the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. This year is an opportunity for us to commit ourselves more fervently to Christian service, especially by reaching out to those who do not know God’s love.
Yes, the New Year is an opportune time to set goals and to begin again, but let us put our goals in the spiritual context of the Year of Mercy and strive to forgive those who have hurt us and to serve those who are most in need.
