Another year goes by

In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.
A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself.
The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John appears as his witness. He proclaims: ‘This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me ranks before me because he existed before me.’ Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.  (John 1:1-18)

Gesù, che è Dio, viene in mezzo a noi, per salvarci e per insegnarci a fare la volontà di Dio che è l’unica che ci dà davvero serenità. Lui viene nel mondo per farci vedere come si soffre, come si gioisce, come si fatica. E tu, hai davvero coscienza del grande dono che ci ha fatto il Padre celeste a inviarci il suo divin Figlio oppure sai solo lamentarti? Oggi un altro anno se ne va. Chiediti quest'anno quali progressi nella vita spirituale hai fatto. Se non ne hai fatti oppure se sono piccoli miglioramenti, vai a parlare, entro pochi giorni, con il padre spirituale per concordare un piano serio per lottare contro il vizio principale che ti blocca nel tuo cammino. Non hai il padre spirituale? In questo anno prega il Signore che ti faccia incontrare un sacerdote che possa guidare la tua anima nel cammino della perfezione cristiana.

Jesus, who is God, comes among us, to save us and to teach us to do the will of God, the only One that truly gives us serenity. He comes into the world to show us how we suffer, how we rejoice, how we struggle. And you, are you really aware of the great gift that the heavenly Father gave us to send us his divine Son or do you only know how to complain? Today another year goes by. Ask yourself what progress you have made in your spiritual life this year. If you have not made any or if they are small improvements, go and talk, within a few days, with the spiritual father to agree on a serious plan to fight against the main vice that is blocking you in your path. Don't you have a spiritual father? In this year, pray to the Lord to let you meet a priest who can guide your soul on the path of Christian perfection.