Newness

Dear Creator Family,

It is so cliché to say things like, “Here we are again at the break of a new year,” and yet we are (at least the secular celebration of such). The new year brings new opportunities, possibilities and availabilities. For people of faith, this newness cannot be overrated.

As we live out our lives of faith in Christ Jesus, God has made many promises of help and aid along the way. God’s promises of healing and wholeness are a proclamation of hope in which we return from desperate times or events, back to being ourselves. Our faith in God’s provision is strong, but our language is flawed, for God does not promise us a return, but a newness.

Holy Scripture repeatedly uses the language of newness as God leads us through life. God gives us a new birth (John 3:3), a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), a new life (2 Cor. 5:17), a new hope (Rom. 5:2), and a new task (Matt. 28:19-20). Finally, when our heart has beat its last, He will give us a new body in a new home called heaven. In fact, God says “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

Still, knowing this truth and living the promises are two different things. Our lives also bring new challenges and burdens, new disappointments and failures. There is often a disconnect of the promises of God from the daily lives we live. It’s not hard, when surveying the world around us and the difficulties of life, to go from “How can that be?” to “How can He be?” God knows (just read Scripture) that we need concrete reminders of God’s presence. It is amazing to me that we can ever forget or overlook the constant love and promises of God as we mark time, day to day, year to year. No subtle reminder this; we literally mark our lives by it and often record it ourselves.

2026

Or more accurately, 

Anno domini nostri Iesu Christi' duo milia viginti sex--

The year of our Lord Jesus Christ two thousand and twenty-six

Sixth-century Scythian monk Dionysius Exiguus introduced "Anno domini nostri Iesu Christi'" (the year of our Lord Jesus Christ) in his Easter tables calendar, thus marking years by Christ's Incarnation. By the time of Charlemagne in the ninth century, his calendar and this basis for delineating the days (A.D. and B.C) was universally accepted. Sadly today, the actual meaning of this phrase has been lost to many who believe it is only “The year of our Lord,” but people of faith know better.

Every day we mark and repeat, perhaps dozens of times, the awesome truth that even time itself is marked with the victory of our Jesus Christ at Calvary. Every year belongs to Jesus as we make our proclamation that he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Our calendar is a proclamation of the Gospel itself! You remember that when Jesus burst onto the scene in public ministry in Nazareth, he quoted the words of the prophet Isaiah when he announced,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to liberate the oppressed,
and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  – Luke 4:18–19

In these words, Jesus was referring to the Old Testament “Year of Jubilee,” in which every seven years, wonderful things happened! Debts were forgiven, slaves were set free, and everything returned to the rightful owners. It was a huge year of celebration!

When Jesus quoted Isaiah, he was saying that he had come to bring one massive Year of Jubilee to this world, and that because of what he would do at Calvary, we would live every year as a Year of Jubilee.
Because of his victory over sin and death, today Jesus Christ is the Lord of time, the Lord of space, the Lord of every relationship, the Lord of every good thing, and the Lord of us. This year will certainly bring blessings to you, and it may also bring apparent evil. Whatever the Lord may allow to come to you in this new year, trust in him. Commit yourself to him. Never let go of Christ’s hand of love, because he will never let go of you.

Take hold of this bold concrete reminder that God’s promises are present and true. Start each day, prompted by your calendar, with the certainty that Jesus is your Lord and Savior and that, come what may, he is with you always. Look for God’s grace, love, peace, and companionship in all things at all times, and may 2026 truly be “The year of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for making all things new! As another new year begins, help me live each day for You. May I continually have a new song in my heart to sing to You, no matter what comes my way. I trust in You because I know that Your mercies are new every morning, and nothing ahead of me will take You by surprise.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.                                            —Joan Walker Hahn
​
Happy New Year in nostri Iesu Christi',


Fr. Bill+