NEW YEAR’S EVE 2018
YEAR OF THE CLERGY AND
CONSECRATED PERSONS
December 31, 2017
Jesus, I trust in you!
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| To Mary we entrust the New Year |
Of the many days of the year, we
could not be more attentive to time than tonight, New Year’s Eve. People get
very excited over the countdowns towards midnight. I had the privilege of being
in Hong Kong last New Year’s Eve. It was my first time to be out of my parish
at the end of the year and I noticed how the secular world gave much importance
to every minute, every second that passes by. The excitement builds up towards
the last 10 seconds of the passing year.
This New Year’s Eve is the occasion
for us to consider seriously the reality of the passing of time. Time is
running (Tempus fugit). It always has and it always will be. Time moves forward
and we can never take back lost time. Once time has passed, it is gone forever.
And we cannot claim that there is an infinite supply of time. Time is limited. We move towards a specific
and determined end of time. That end is set in the secrecy of the heart of God
the Father. It is a deadline that will never be moved and so every moment that
passes by brings us closer to that end. When we say that time is running out,
we are literally saying the truth.
This is why time is valuable. We
say that time is gold. It is worth more than gold. And we will make an
accounting for it before the Lord Jesus when we stand before his judgment seat.
At the end of our lives, we shall render an account to the Lord about how we
used his graces and the time that he has given to us during life. That is why
tonight is the best opportunity to make a year- end evaluation of our lives. Spend
time to make a very personal year-end report. What were the graces I received
during the year? How did I use them? How did I waste opportunities for goodness
that the Lord gave me? What did I do with my time? Was every second well spent?
Did I increase in holiness this year? Am I more loving or less loving? Have I
become more generous now or have I become more selfish? Am I closer to God now
or have we drifted apart this year? Write down your year-end report in a
notebook. It would be good to read it time and again so that you may be aware
of your progress or regress. This honest examination of conscience is
necessary. Remember, we are moving toward the deadline and time is running out.
It sounds like this New Year’s Eve
will be quieter than the previous ones because of existing laws on
firecrackers. I think that this is better. Firecrackers will not scare off the
demons anyway. It is best to confront our personal demons with prayer. A sincere examination of conscience is the
best way to confront the evil lurking within us. And after examining our
conscience, let us beg the Lord for forgiveness and mercy. Many of us were busy
cleaning our houses in time for the New Year. But have we cleaned our hearts?
Have we gone to confession? Have we asked for forgiveness? Have we settled our account with God? Have we
paid our dues to him? Nakabawi na ba tayo sa kanya?
On this New Year’s Eve, our prayer
must be: “Lord, teach us to number our days, so that we may gain wisdom of
heart.” (Ps. 90:12) Instead of counting the seconds backwards, it is better to
ask: what we have done with this time given to us? Do not meet the New Year.
The Year is not alive. It is just a measurement of time. Meet the Lord tonight
instead. He is here in Church. He is alive and he wishes to engage in a
heart-to-heart conversation with you. Spend an intimate date with the Lord
tonight. The opportunity of the New Year’s Eve is just right. Time passes away.
Why hold on something that eventually gets lost? Only God stays. He is eternal.
He is forever!
“My past to your mercy Lord; my present to
your love; my future to your providence.” (Padre Pio) There is nothing else
that I ask.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray
for us who have recourse to thee!
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