By Archbishop Sotirios of Canada
I was searching my mind for something meaningful to write about on New Year’s Day. Yet my efforts seemed in vain; I found nothing. As the years go by, it becomes increasingly difficult to find something new to say about this day. I thought I had exhausted the topic over the years. Then, I realized that the best approach would be to turn to the Holy Bible and reflect on the passage assigned for the New Year’s Day Liturgy. Surely, there I would find inspiration. And by God’s grace, I did.
“Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His wisdom and His answers” (Luke 2:47). Who were they listening to? To the twelve-year-old Christ. Jesus was in the Temple of Solomon, conversing with the priests, rabbinic teachers, and scribes. They were astonished by His wisdom and the profound nature of His responses.
Here, I found what I was looking for – an ideal message for New Year’s Day. We are called to imitate Christ by applying wisdom, prudence, and sobriety to everything we think, say, and do. The gift of a New Year from God should be used wisely. Have you ever considered that the foundation of all virtues is humility, and the source that nourishes them is wisdom and understanding? If you reflect on this deeply, you will see its truth.
Let us now consider what it means to use the time of the New Year with wisdom and understanding. The first question is: why? What happens if we do not use the time granted to us in this New Year wisely? Think about this.
Every second that passes is lost forever. It is gone, never to return. Either we use the moment wisely, or we waste it. There is no such thing as reincarnation. Once we die, we do not return to this earth. We are sojourners here, passing through on our journey to the Kingdom of Heaven. Death is a reality for us all, and it marks a path from which we can never turn back. For this reason, whatever we wish to accomplish on earth, we must strive to do it now.
What should we aim to achieve, or rather, what do we need to accomplish during our time on earth? Each of us sets different goals. Some seek praise and glory; others aim for wealth. Many aspire to become leaders – prime ministers, cabinet ministers, presidents, kings – or to excel as teachers, professors, doctors, or wise scholars. These aspirations can be good and commendable, provided they lead us to our ultimate goal and the true purpose of life.
The real meaning of life is to strive for our sanctification and holiness. Simply put, our goal must be to imitate Christ and draw closer to God. If we fail to achieve this, everything else we accomplish becomes meaningless – a waste of life and time. Why? Because these accomplishments do not endure beyond death. While our successes may bring us satisfaction and joy in this life, they are ultimately fleeting. If we neglect the ultimate goal of life, the life to come will be a living hell.
We cannot compare life after death with life on earth. Our earthly life is measured in years, days, hours, and minutes, but life after death is eternal -it has no end. This is the message I wish to share with you this New Year: use the time given to you wisely, with wisdom and understanding. Doing so will bring true joy and success, and it will enable you to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Conversely, wasting time or using it poorly will lead to the opposite results – abyss, destruction and eternal hell.
Each of us is free to choose: the path of wisdom or the road to destruction. We know where the path we choose will ultimately lead. It is with this knowledge that we must make our choices in life.
God has given us a brand-new year to use. Let us use it wisely, so that those around us, along with the angels in Heaven, may marvel at our wisdom and understanding. May God Himself be pleased with us. The proper use of this New Year, a gift from God, will lead us to eternity – in the presence of the living and risen Christ – and to our own sanctification and holiness.
St. Paul the Apostle wrote to his beloved disciple Timothy: “May the Lord grant you wisdom in all things.” I echo these words to each of you, my beloved Christians. May God grant you the wisdom and understanding to make the right choices in life. May you use this New Year wisely, so that you may progress and succeed in life. This will bring true happiness and contentment. Never cease working out your salvation, striving for perfection and holiness in life. May you participate in the glory of God here and now, and may each of you be found worthy to inherit the eternal Kingdom of God.
With fatherly love and blessings in the Newborn Christ,
