There is something about a newness, a clean slate. I find such relief in the concept of new, whether that pertains to a new year, a new month, week, day, a new perspective, a new idea. What a joy it is to be aware of the newness and experience a breath of fresh air, new beginnings, new hopes, new resolutions, or even old resolutions with new methods. There is an attractiveness in these new things, such as one would be drawn to new products, new music or movies, a new episode of a long-awaited TV show, or even the innocence and purity of a newborn child.
The emotion of going through something new is rejuvenating and winsome. New Year’s gives way of thinking in our minds the hope for a better life and future. And then before you know it, the last week of December has arrived and you realize you’ve done frankly nothing, or haven’t done enough to push yourself harder, or to challenge yourself to grow more intellectually, physically, spiritually, or relationally. Another year arrives and perhaps the cycle continues again. “I need to be better this year.”
People are grateful for new starts, as am I, and reflecting on this concept of newness has brought me to think of something new in regards to my life in Christ.
Ruminating on this newness brought way to thinking of Christ in the Eucharist. The great St. Augustine of Hippo in his Confessions described Christ as [the] “Beauty ever ancient, ever new.” Christ, who remains sacramentally present in the Eucharistic species has been present in our world for thousands of years ago, and yet, there is an ever newness that awaits us each time we encounter Him in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is an inexhaustible mystery that the mind of a human can never fathom. And it is in within this mystery, within this relationship with Christ can one experience invigoration, excitement, and appeal through beholding the Mystery of Christ’s true presence. It is in His presence do we experience a breath of fresh air, a new beginning, a new hope with the absolute trust that it will be fulfilled. Why hopelessly wait for the coming of a new year to recall all the things you need to improve yourself on when you are given opportunity to receive the Eucharist and spend time in the presence of our Lord who is humbly, yet sovereignly exposed to us in the monstrance daily?
This Eucharistic Sacrament is so deeply steeped into a history so rich and so ancient, and yet Christ offers newness of life, grace, and hope to us every single minute of every single day.
What a joy. What a relief.
This 2014, may we consider spending [more] time in front of the Lord with an open heart and a faith that can move mountains; recall the size of a mustard seed (Mt 17:20). So as we finalize or put into action our resolutions for this new year, may we consider the time that can be spent with Christ, Who will give us a wholesome sense of purpose in life, making it abound in sweetness.
“You breathed Your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for You. I have tasted You, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for Your peace.” –St. Augustine, Confessions
This House You're Building 