Archbishop Dolan's Thought for the Week

January 3, 2008

Dear Friends United in Love and Service of Jesus Christ and His Church:

“Lord God, Sabaoth, bring us back to you!  Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved!” (Psalm 80)

The New Year brings promise, renewal, hope, noble intentions, a fresh start, the exhilaration of a new beginning.

God likes that.  He is the Lord of second chances.  He never tires of giving us another opportunity.

Every morning brings a new chance.

Every prayer a new hope.

Every blocked path a new route.

Every sin repented of a fresh burst of grace.

Every mistake a lesson learned.

For God, every day is New Year’s.

Every day the sun rises is His act of confidence that creation continues.

Every baby born is His act of hope that humanity goes on.

Every marriage His trust that love is stronger than hate.

Every death but a new life.

We have a God who relishes fresh starts, new dreams, trying again, resolutions made.

Right before Christmas, I visited the Fox Lake Correctional Institution.  We had “midnight Mass” a few days early.

One of the young prisoners teared up, telling me about his grandma:

“She never stops believing in me.  She never gives up on me.  It’s like she still sees me as an innocent little boy.  I gotta make good ‘cause I don’t want to let her down.”

God’s like that prisoner’s grandma. 

A blessed New Year!

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

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