As we start a new year, many of us have made and perhaps already broken new resolutions. Perhaps many have offered prayers, meditations and started novenas of things long prayed, desired, and hoped for. We’ve been brought together by one single strand of commonality: the desire for the return of our prodigals to the Church.

Our sign of peace during mass, signifies that we are at peace with our neighbors. Our Catechism tells us to be at peace, before we dare approach the altar to receive Holy Communion. This requires more spirituality than I could ever muster on my own. The silver lining is realizing that even though our prodigals have not yet returned, our Lord has given us peace—peace for today. Enough peace to allow us to focus, at this moment on the gift of Christ in the Eucharist.

Thinking about new resolutions, led me to words of St. Theresa of Calcutta. Her spirituality was a simple one—attainable by ordinary persons in our everyday lives.

She tells us this:

Love begins at home: start to love and serve your family and neighbors;

Share with the poor and needy: a smile, a word, your time, your friendship, belongings;

Give God, the big 'Other', a capital place in your life: pray, meditate, adore;

See Gods' presence in the people you meet daily and treat them as children of God;

Don’t waste a second of time on useless and ugly things;

Live according to Gods' standards (10 commandments);

Gods' love is always present in your life. He loved you first and will love you always.

Here’s some good news! If you add Mother Theresa’s words to your New Year's resolutions, there is one resolution to which you will continue to remain faithful. Love indeed begins at home, and through your faithful prayers for all of our prodigals, you are serving your family and your neighbors.

May we all know the peace of our Lord and continue to love and serve our family through our prayers throughout this year.

"Lord, let our eyes be opened." Mat 20, 30 ♥