A New Year, A New Heart

A New Year, A New Heart… The turning of the calendar always brings a sense of possibility. A new year feels clean, untouched—twelve months waiting to be written. Yet for the Christian, the New Year is not merely about fresh schedules or resolutions. It is an invitation from God to look inward, to ask not only what will I do this year, but who am I becoming before the Lord? Jesus never measured life by accomplishments, status, or success. He measured it by love. As the New Year dawns, He quietly asks each of us: How is your soul? Not how busy you are. Not how much you’ve achieved. But how deeply you are connected to Him. Our souls are shaped by what we give our time, attention, and affection to. Over time, distractions can dull our awareness of God’s presence. Prayer becomes rushed. Gratitude fades. Love becomes conditional. The New Year offers us a sacred pause a moment to realign our hearts with Christ, who alone can make us whole. To love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is not a feeling; it is a decision lived daily. It means choosing prayer even when life feels full. It means trusting God not only when things are going well, but especially when they are not. Loving God means surrender allowing Him to shape our plans, heal our wounds, and transform our hearts. And Jesus makes it clear: love of God cannot be separated from love of neighbor. Loving our neighbor means more than kindness when it’s convenient. It means patience when we are frustrated, mercy when we want judgment, forgiveness when we want to hold onto resentment. It means seeing Christ in the people who challenge us most. As we step into a new year, we are reminded that time itself is a gift. We do not know how many New Year’s we will be given. That truth is not meant to frighten us, but to awaken us. Every day is an opportunity to love more deeply, forgive more freely, and trust more completely. The New Year is not about becoming a better version of ourselves by sheer willpower. It is about allowing Christ to make us new. Saint Paul reminds us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” That promise is not tied to January 1st it is available every day but the New Year gives us the courage to begin again. As this year unfolds, may we walk more closely with Jesus, love more boldly, and live more intentionally. May this be a year not just of change, but of conversion. And may we reach the end of it able to say: Lord, I loved You by loving Your people.

Blessings, Deacon Mike