Introduction In the course of a day, a week, or a year, each of us is touched by God in ways too numerous to count and often too profound to explain. If we''re honest we might also admit that, as hopeful as we might be about God''s active presence in our lives, we''re often far too busy to notice it. In A Catholic Woman''s Book of Days, I''ve tried to offer daily meditations that clear a spiritual space in which to recognize that Presence, no matter how busy the rest of life is. T'hese thoughts are rooted in my own experiences, but I hope that the moments on which I reflect and the questions that I ask are broad enough to include yours, too. As we journey through this year together, may our hearts be enlivened by God''s constant grace, our spirits be freed in his mercy and love, and our whole beings grow more finely tuned to the Lord''s presence--within every sentence and page of the "book of days" called life. January January 1 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. --Luke 2:19 The previous months had given Mary much to contemplate: her mysterious, God-given pregnancy; her aged cousin''s maternity; and the birth of her Son attended--marvelously--by angels. The beginning of a new year is the natural time to reflect on the past.
But let''s be careful to sift through these memories of joy and regret in the right way. Reflecting on the past helps us discern God''s will and how we''ve responded to it. It can hurt, though, if our reflections become occasions for paralyzing regret or wishful nostalgia, both of which blind us to God''s presence in the here and now, in the limitless possibility of the brand-new year. Lord, thank you for the past year of my life. Help me to grow in my awareness of your love in the present moment and not be discouraged by the past. January 2 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. --1 John 2:24 What is it you have heard from the beginning? For many of us, childhood memories of religious formation are suffused with a sense of simple trust. Our parents, grandparents, and teachers told us that God created us, loves us, and takes care of us.
It''s good to remember that those who taught us to trust knew, as we do now, of suffering, pain, and shadows. These experiences may have raised questions, but they also, in the end, brought the answers of trust and faith they shared with us. Lord, in this new year, give me the grace to live in response to the simple truth of your love and care for me. January 3 O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. --Psalm 98:1 The baby sits in the middle of his super-duper play saucer, propped upright by a towel around his middle, his feet dangling in the air. His eyes are wide open, and his head just can''t stop moving as his gaze darts from toy to toy. Within seconds, he starts wailing. It''s all just too much.
The wealth of amusing and developmentally helpful plastic objects has overwhelmed him with choices. As the new year begins and we contemplate what we want to make of it, our reaction may be similar to the baby''s. Evidence of our faults surrounds us, and opportunities for growth and change overwhelm us. Which way should we go? What should come first? The psalmist gives us a different idea. Instead of beginning with self-scrutiny, why not start this year with a new song: one of openhearted praise? Lord, I thank you for my life and for the chance to grow that this new year brings. January 4 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" --John 1:38 More times than I care to admit, I stride into a room or up the stairs with a great air of purpose and then come to a stop, bewildered. I haven''t a clue as to why I''m there. What in the world was I looking for? If Jesus were to stop us in the middle of our confident daily journeys from room to room, meeting to meeting, and goal to goal and ask us the question he poses to the disciples here, would we have an answer? Lord, help me look at my life today and discern what it is I''m looking for.
January 5 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." --John 1:46 Want to succeed? That''s easy. Gather up your stunning résumé, your magna cum laude degree, your stellar references, and your fabulous good looks. Thank heaven that''s not what God is looking for. Just run down the list of his choices. From the young (David, Jeremiah) to the awkward (Moses) to the reluctant (?just about everyone), hardly any of them have résumés that would impress. Especially a carpenter''s son from that backwater called Nazareth. To know that God works through those the world scorns should be a great comfort to us.
Lord, today I present myself, weakness and strength, wisdom and foolishness. Use me as I am to do your will. January 6 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you. --Luke 1:3 At the age of eight, my daughter developed a keen interest in whether the books she read were "true stories." She was wondering if there might be something about a not-true story that made it less worthy of her time. Imagine her joy when, after many tries, she held up a book, and I could finally tell her, "Yes. This is a true story. Her name really was Laura, and she really lived in a little house in a big wood.
" I feel the same way about faith as I listen to Luke begin his Gospel. In no uncertain terms, he tells me: The story I am about to tell you is the true story. This is the story worth living for. Jesus, I open your story, seeking truth. January 7 "For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ''Move from here to there,'' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." --Matthew 17:20 My oldest son once quit a job, which was okay since he hadn''t had a raise in two years. The problem was, he didn''t make sure he had another job before he left the first one. "But Mom," he protested to my protestations, "you always say it''s good to take risks.
" Jesus tells us that if our faith is but the size of a mustard seed, great things can happen. It''s not a call to take irrational risks but to listen to God''s voice, discern the truth he''s telling us, and follow, no matter how risky it may seem. It can be hard to tell the difference at × but keeping the Lord, rather than our egos, fears, or needs, at the center of our response keeps us on course. Jesus, nourish the seed of faith you have planted within me, and strengthen me to step forward in trust. January 8 "For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ''Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.''" --Luke 18:4-5 Ah, the fruit of persistence. The judge in Jesus'' parable has been worn down by a very bold woman, indeed. She goes before the judge herself, in a culture in which a woman would normally have a male relative speak for her.
And she doesn''t give up until the arrogant judge, who says he doesn''t even fear God, relents. Jesus isn''t saying that God needs to be pestered into hearing our prayers. He''s giving us the widow as an example of fearlessness. No matter what our need, he says, we should never be afraid to bring it before God. Loving God, I come to you with my every need, no matter how small it seems. January 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.
" --Mark 1:9-11 Most of us have at least one baptism story up our sleeves. We remember babies crying, being startled, or just wondering about the oil and the water, the strange fingers marking them with crosses. It was that last moment that invariably got my children going, by the way. At the root, though, every baptism story is a story about a beginning. It''s the beginning of our life in Christ, the beginning of our journey with Jesus, the beloved Son of God. Jesus, help me grow in the graces I received in my baptism. January 10 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." --Mark: 1:14-15 Who--or what--is in charge of your life? When Jesus speaks, as he often does, of the kingdom of God, he''s talking about God''s reign: over the whole earth and in each of our lives.
He''s talking about letting God be our standard and our judge, and not allowing anything or anyone else to be in charge of our choices, our self-understanding, or our view of the world. Repentance is the other word today. What false and useless allegiances do I need to repent of? What worldly standards and voices need to be tossed so I can make room for God''s rule in my he.