The Eternal Youth of the Lord
The New Year of the Lord
As we begin a new year we all share the promise of a fresh, blank, calendar awaiting us with eager expectation. What kind of entries will fill these first few weeks of the frosty January season? Hopeful or melancholic? Joyful or despairing?
To help me keep a positive attitude to the changing of the yearly calendar I find reading certain authors helps me along. Karl Rahner is one of my go to’s. (Who are your encouragers?)
But we Christians know the definitive name of God: Jesus. For that is the name which that child received who is God and the eternal youth of the world, who is a man and as such the eternal countenance of God. Let us give this name to the coming year. Let us sign the cross of this Jesus on brow, mind, and heart. Let us say with relief: our help is in the name of the Lord! And then stoutheartedly let us cross the threshold of the new year. If his name shines above it, even its darkest hour will be an hour of the year of the Lord and of his salvation. (Karl Rahner, The Great Church)
Crossing over into the new year with a horizon of hope makes a big difference for me. To know the “eternal youth of the Lord” regardless of the messages of my discarded day timer. The coming year comes with its challenges but it is still the “year of the Lord” and that gives me comfort.
Thanks for posting Alan. Life brings changes but with our hand in 'His' gives us an anchor in rough waters, hope in the trials, joy when the sun shines down on us! An ever eternal help a loving God.
Happy New Year go forward with the confidence that he us the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.
🙏
Blessed New Year Pastor Alan. Amen it’s still the year of Lord. Something came to mind as I deal with issues.. didn’t even see a firelight😆 so while I was thinking about my stuff.. the Holy Spirit brought to mind “ His Mercies are New Every Morning” So I retreat to positive thinking and laughed….I was even asleep at midnight like Jesus sleeping in the storm….it’s the Lord year indeed.