20210101 WHAT WILL THE NEW YEAR BRING?
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Our parish church is somewhat under two miles away. As I was 
running late this morning, I took the train and walked to the 
church from the station. Today is a Solemnity. It is the last day 
of the Octave of Christmas. Christmas is more than a day in our 
tradition. In fact, it does not end with the Octave.

Christmas is over on Twelfth Night with the beginning of the Vigil 
for Epiphany at sunset on the 5th of January. My wife is still 
delivering Christmas gifts to the children of our friends in the 
parish! In some ways, these Twelve days take much of the stress 
out of the Christmas season and I may still listen to my 
Baroque Christmas music without shame. Joy.

There was Exposition this morning before a sung Mass with all the 
splendor of the vestments and candles for the Solemnity. Because 
there is a fear in the community that a new Covid outbreak is 
about to descend upon us, the church was crowded for the morning 
Mass. There were a large number of families with young, well 
behaved children. Even the little ones grasped the significance of 
the moment. We may well be barred, yet again, from the Eucharist. 

We should take nothing for granted.

Is this what the new year will bring? More uncertainty and 
separation of families? My wife and I had not seen two of our 
adult children living here in Melbourne for much of the last year. 
That tore at the sinews of our hearts. They were beyond the three 
mile limit to our authorised movements. We pray God this will not 
be the case again.

We live in hope. And, hope does not disappoint, even when we face 
the sorrow of injustice and loss. When I walked home to enjoy the 
day, I had a quiet sense of peace that seemed reflected in 
passersby. I stepped off the footpath to let strollers, bicycles 
and skateboards pass as I heard or saw them coming. "Thanks", were 
said and "No worries", were returned. Dog walkers smiled and said 
hello. Some stopped to chat as the air's moist, gentle warmth 
hinted of possible rain in the afternoon.

THIS is the day and we will rejoice in it.

I pondered on the fact that while the new calendar year had just 
begun, the liturgical year began with the first Sunday of Advent, 
the Sunday of expectation. We are already well along the way of 
waiting and watching anew. That's what the liturgical "new year" 
always brings: a new opportunity to hope and work while it is 
still light.