My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

NEW YEAR'S "RESOLUTIONS" WE, AS ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS RESOLVE...

The majority of people have made a number of New Year's resolutions throughout their lives. Yet, practically every resolution is broken a short time after being made--less than 20 percent are successful in attaining success in even one of their resolutions.

One cannot help but ask, "What is the harm in wanting to change negative aspects of my life?" There is nothing wrong with aspiring to improve oneself. As Orthodox Christian believers we should make every effort to change. The Greek word for repentance is "metanoia" which means change. A change of heart, of mind, of life, of attitude, of practice, a total change so as to conform to the Commandments and teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The desire to overcome the passions, evil thoughts (logismoi), injustices, anger, hatred, abuse, weaknesses, spiritual complacency, and temptations that the Evil One casts against us.

Change is difficult. Why is it so hard for Christians to change their destructive habits and attain success in their resolutions? Because change is difficult!

Our Savior explained, "for wide is the gate, and broad (easy) is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many be who go in by it : because strait (difficult) is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it" (Saint Matthew 7:13-14). Again, change is difficult. That is why so many avoid trying to change their attitude and behavior.

At some point, everyone has had to address a bad habit. Most understand how difficult it can be to overcome such habits. Often, the individual will not even recognize the habit until someone, a friend or relative, brings it to his attention--and removing these subtleties from one's routine is b. However, as Orthodox Christians, whatever we encounter in our lives we don't face it alone. We recall the Divine words of our Lord Who reminds us constantly that "without Me, you can do nothing." Therefore we turn to Him for everything and we seek His inspiration, wisdom, and Divine guidance. We resolve all our personal and family problems together with Him through prayer. A prayer that is based on faith, patience, trust, humility, and conviction.

Resolutions can come in many forms and resolutions can be goals we want to accomplish over a short period of time (short-term goals) or goals we want to accomplish over a year or many years (long-term goals).

We, as Orthodox Christians and stewards of our Greek Orthodox parish of Saint Andrew, ought to have certain specific goals for the new year. Personal spiritual resolutions to:

be kinder,
be gentler,
be considerate,
be loving,
be compassionate,
be more forgiving,
be more merciful,
be more prayerful,
be more generous,
be more committed,
be more faithful,
be more giving,
be more positive,
be more useful,
be more humble,
be more active in my church.

And as a parish, we should be:

be a welcoming church,
be a loving community,
be more philanthropic,
be spiritually strong,
be committed to Christ,
be an environment of peace,
be a place of inspiration,
be a community Spirit-filled,
be a God-fearing parish,
be a place of true worship,
be a place of prayer guided by the Holy Spirit.

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of agape and of sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). The holy Apostle Paul also wrote, "my brethren be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).

I pray that the year 2020 will be a blessed year filled with God's grace and peace for all.

_________________

"Glory Be To GOD For All Things! - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George