We all look forward to successfully completing things. Sometimes it’s big, like a graduation or retirement. Other times it’s more mundane, like getting the grocery shopping done or paying the bills.
Either way, there’s a joy, a sense of accomplishment, and even relief when we finish something. That’s why we often celebrate.
As we get ready to finish one year and start a new one, I suggest we reflect more on the joy in starting things. I have always enjoyed the energy, excitement and possibilities of new beginnings. Thinking about a new initiative or New Year’s resolutions gives me a renewed sense of purpose and of trying to make a difference.
I think back to several projects I was involved with from the beginning: The Shepherd Foundation to help with Catholic school tuition for those who can’t afford it; Potomac Community Resources to include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community; Mercy Health Clinic for low-income uninsured people to find healthcare.
At Catholic Charities, we started Cup of Joe to provide breakfast for the homeless. We also initiated the Newcomer Network to help those new to our country get the help they need.
All of these started small, some without a clear agenda or even an overall expectation. In each case, however, the beginning was exciting and motivational. I’m so pleased that all grew into highly successful programs that made a difference in a lot of people’s lives, and they would not have existed if we had never taken those first steps.
I think of couples getting married and the joy of beginning a life together. I think of parents or grandparents welcoming a new baby and the unparalleled joy of a new life in the family and in the world.
The Church in her wisdom sets aside specific times of the year to reflect on where we are and where we can be better. We just finished one in Advent, which is the beginning of the Church year and a time of preparation for the Lord’s coming. We have another in a few months with Lent, when we try to increase our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection and the gift of eternal life.
All of these are beginnings that can set us on a path to doing more for others and even ourselves. They are opportunities to seek God’s will, to begin something of value, and to rededicate ourselves to making our own lives better and improving the world around us.
The start of a new year is about as natural a beginning as there is. I guess that’s why resolutions are so popular, and I also look forward to a fresh start and the goals I will set.
To be honest, I don’t always succeed. I may not always keep the resolutions I make, but that’s okay. I still find it important to reflect on what I can do better, set goals, and try my best to accomplish them. There’s a value in the process itself, and it gives me energy, excitement and a sense of purpose,
As we approach New Year’s Day, I encourage you to think about what’s important to you and what you would like to accomplish. For me, it’s about being the person God wants me to be, finding my place in God’s kingdom, and spending more time in prayer. It’s about how I can grow as a person and in my relationship with the Lord, and how I can make a difference for others.
“The beginning is the most important part of the work,” said Plato, about 375 years before the birth of Jesus. After all, we can’t finish what we don’t start. Let’s spend some time in prayer asking God what we can start in 2025.
I wish you a Happy New Year filled with health, happiness, and God’s peace. May you draw ever closer to God. May God speak clearly through your actions and your words. And may others sense God’s presence in you.
(Msgr. John Enzler serves as the mission advocate of Catholic Charities of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and is a chaplain at his alma mater, St. John’s College High School in Washington. He writes the Faith in Action column for the archdiocese’s Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites.)
