We are only a little less than a week into the New Year, a time when many people resolve to make changes in the coming year, to improve their lives. According to a recent survey, the New Year’s resolutions for 2020 fall in line with ones from most years. Here is a sample from the top 10 New Year’s resolutions:
- Exercise more
- Lose weight
- Get organized
- Save more money / spend less money
- Spend more time with family and friends
I would suspect that many of us, if we have a list, have some of these same ones but, as Catholics, we likely have several other ones as well:
- Pray daily (start, improve, deepen)
- Read Scripture more
- Bring Christ into our family life in more ways.
- Stop some of my habits that keep me from having a better spiritual life.
- Act more “Christ-like” as a …husband; father; son; brother; neighbor; coworker; boss, etc.
Each of us, in some way, feels a need to become better versions of ourselves. We all believe that this is something that God wants of us as well. Many resolutions, whether they are spiritual ones or not, often fall apart soon after the start of a new year.
Personally, despite my best intentions, I can’t get out of the way of some of my long-established habits. At some point, I even resolve to try harder but often with the same result. I have come to realize that I can’t do it just by my own strength; in fact, the harder I try, the harder it is. I need help to become better. Two scripture passages came to mind:
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." — Philippians 4:13
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." —John 15:5
How can we get there and, as importantly, how can we help one another get there?
In our January Men’s Group, we’re fortunate to have Dan Matthews join us to share his experiences and to help us explore some of these questions as only Dan can do.
Come join us on Tuesday, January 14th at 7 pm in the Church Hall. We’ll have pizza and beverages available before we sit down to share together and will finish up around 9 pm.
The New Year is an excellent time to invite someone new to our meeting; to get to know other men willing to share their faith together.
See you on Tuesday, January 14th at 7 pm!