A Reflection for the New Year

By Tom Andino
Contributing writer

JAN. 1, 2024

“Happy all those who fear the Lord and walk in God’s pathway;
you will find what you long for: the riches of our God.”

~ Ps. 128

The above quote is a paraphrase by Marty Haugen, a contemporary liturgical composer, of the first two verses of Psalm 128.  Psalm 128 is one of two Lectionary options for the Responsorial Psalm on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which is celebrated on Sunday, December 31 this year.

 Did you get what you longed for this Christmas? Did it satisfy you as much as you thought it would or are you still longing for more? What do you ultimately long for? Do you even know?

This coming Sunday, Jan. 7, the Church celebrates The Epiphany of the Lord. It is on this Sunday that we will hear the familiar passage of the Magi proclaimed from the Gospel.

The story of the Magi and their journey is one of my favorite Scripture passages.  It is a story of adventure. The journey could not have been an easy one. It was surely marked with difficult travel, bad roads, stubborn camels, long days, harsh nights and the threat of thieves. Yet, the Magi were not alone. They had each other and they had God. God guided their way through the radiance of a star and spoke to them in a dream.

The journey we take to the Lord is also a long one. Our whole life is a journey toward an ultimate goal: eternal life in the kingdom of heaven, meeting the Lord, as the Magi did, face to face. Along the way, our journey too will be filled with difficulties, unexpected turns and problems. Yet, like the Magi, we are not alone.  We have the Church – the people and the resources that help us on our journey to the Lord. We have the Eucharist as our Star, the Bread of Life, and our food for the journey and when we lose our way, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  We also have each other, members of our parish and diocesan communities, as well as our families and friends.

The Magi were longing to find the Lord and their journey ended “as they entered the house and found the child with Mary his mother.” They found the ultimate “riches of our God,” for they saw God face to face. The Church helps us to do the same. “We don’t live to find the Church. The Church lives to help us find the Lord.” (Bishop Ken Untener, Bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan)

I pray that you will find what you long for during this New Year and that you will take time during your life’s journey to draw closer to God.  May your year be rich filled with the blessings of love, joy, warmth, good health and happiness.

Editor’s note: Tom Andino lives in Syracuse, New York and serves as director of music ministry at Our Lady of Hope Church and The Church of St. Michael/St. Peter in Syracuse.