The new year provides us with a natural opportunity to reflect on our past and envision how we would like to shape our future. We make resolutions to strengthen the areas we feel are weak, to release the things that hold us back, and to accomplish the goals that will lead to our happiness. These things can be good. But when we rely only upon ourselves for improvement, we overlook the one thing that guides us to true contentment and success. That, of course, is turning toward God to elevate our good works into great works.
Anything we do can be made better by doing it with God for His glory. Saint John Chrysostom notes, “When we once begin to form good resolutions, God gives us every opportunity of carrying them out.” The first step to forming good resolutions is to listen to God’s will for us. Saint Ignatius of Loyola cautions that “There are very few men who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves entirely to his hands, and let themselves be formed by His Grace.” The next step is to seek His blessing. Saint Benedict advises that “Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.”
Dedicating our efforts to build the Kingdom of God gives them meaning and purpose. Saint Dominic Savio says, “I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God.” Saint Teresa of Calcutta urges us to “Do something beautiful for God. Do it with your life. Do it every day. Do it in your own way. But do it!”
“If we are, in fact, now occupied in good deeds, we should not attribute the strength with which we are doing them to ourselves,” observes Saint Gregory the Great. Humble service disposes us to use our God-given gifts with gratitude and to grow in His grace. Blessed Giles of Assisi teaches us that “No man can attain to the knowledge of God but by humility. The way to mount high is to descend.” Saint Pio of Pietrelcina encourages us: “If you should fail, be humble, make a resolution to be submissive to God’s will and then get up, and carry on.”
Saint Francis of Assisi breaks it down for us: “Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Pope St. John Paul II tells us: “Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Dream big, because together with God you can accomplish great feats. Saint Alphonsus Liguori states, “He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.”
This month, our “Weekly Challenge” section will elaborate on how our good works are made great when they are guided by God for His Kingdom in humble service to attain the most for the Most High. Please comment on your hopes for 2024. Where is God leading you this year?
Best wishes to everyone for a happy new year filled with great things!
