December 31: The Dawning of a New Year / El Comienzo del Nuevo Año

New Year’s Eve is often a time when we look back on the past year. For many, the past year will have been a difficult one. The economic situation locally and globally has left many without a job and forced others to emigrate whose preference would have been to stay at home. Some will have lost a loved one during the year and are struggling to come to terms with the loss. Others are facing injustice and persecution, denial of basic rights, and cruel treatment.

At the same time, as we look back on the struggles and pains of the past year, New Year’s Eve can be for us a time to look back in thanksgiving, a time to name the graces and gifts that have come our way and have enhanced our lives. No matter what we have been through, we all have something to give thanks for. We have all been graced in one way or another. It is that graced dimension of our lives that the faith draws our attention to and it is a constant reminder to "be not afraid."

The greatest grace and the source of all other graces is the Lord’s presence to us. That grace is memorably expressed in these words, “The Word was made flesh and He lived among us, and we saw His glory.” Jesus became flesh as we are flesh, and as risen Lord He remains with us until the end of time. St. John tells us that “from His fullness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace upon grace.” We are invited to keep drawing grace upon grace in the year ahead. That realization can keep us thankful for the past and give us confidence, no matter what happens, as we face the future.

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La Iglesia nos recuerda hoy de la importancia de la “Noche Vieja” o noche última del año. Avizora a la vez el fin del tiempo futuro (1 Juan 2, 18-21) y vuelve hacia atrás hacia el principio: A la Palabra (el Verbo) que creó todo y vino a vivir entre nosotros como Palabra viviente, Jesús, para iniciar un nuevo comienzo con nosotros.

Y eso es la vida: el fin de todo lo pasado, y un nuevo comienzo que hay que renovar constantemente. El año que acaba ha sido una mezcla de alegrías y de miserias, compartidas juntos, que se han hecho más ligeras cuando las hemos llevado precisamente juntos. Y ha sido también un tiempo por el que, después de todo, estamos agradecidos unos a otros y a Dios. 

Un punto decisivo es también un tiempo de esperanza. El pasado se fue; miramos con ilusión hacia delante. Decimos adiós a lo pasado y, al mismo tiempo, con esperanza damos la bienvenida a lo que llega, pues el Señor está con nosotros: Reemprendamos el viaje y la aventura juntos como pueblo peregrino de Dios. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!