Reasons for Hope at the End of the Year

The year 2022 has arrived at its end. How were the past 12 months for you?

Many people will be ready to move on from a year marked by record inflation and gas prices, violent attacks on pregnancy centers and pro-life activists, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and another deeply partisan election season.

Yet, now as always, God offers us hope. Catholics are called to keep the hope of the Lord alive in our hearts, words, and actions. Here are a few things about which we have to be grateful, and hopeful, as we welcome the new year.

The overturn of Roe v. Wade

Rejoice! The seemingly impossible happened this year. But we know that with God, all things are possible. 

The overturning of the unconstitutional “right” to abortion was just a start, too. Now, political leaders will have to walk the walk on where they stand on the right to life. Those who hid behind the protection of Roe will now have to vote on pro-life legislation and make their position known. This is a good thing!

The pro-life movement is moving to the states, which means that even if you don’t live near enough to participate in the annual March for Life in Washington, DC, abundant opportunities will be available for you to support the pro-life cause where you live.

Also, at its most basic level, and most importantly of all, just visualize what this means: hundreds of children who would never have been given a chance at life now exist, this very day. This is a truly beautiful thing.

The return of in-person gatherings

In 2022, we saw the return of in-person gatherings as the norm. Just about everyone decided that it was time to get back together.  This decision is something to celebrate! Humans need their people: friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. .

Gathering again also meant a reduction in online Masses, and, God willing, an increase in the return to in-person Mass attendance at your church. Increasing the number of people in the pews across the church in America will continue to be a complex problem that needs to be approached with a variety of remedies. In the meantime, at least we aren’t locked out from our churches, and inviting your neighbors to return will be easier.

Additionally, authorities will have more difficulty in the future justifying  a return to enforced “social distancing” that did so much psychological damage in 2020 and 2021. 

The growth of Catholic schools

Catholic schools continued to see big increases in their enrollment numbers. Besides this growth, these faith-based schools  are outperforming their public school counterparts across just about every metric.

Early in the pandemic, Catholic schools made the choice to reopen safely, putting students first. Now, at least part of this generation will not be left behind and will have had some sense of normalcy, along with a great education. These students are the future leaders of this country, which matters for us all.

How will you enter 2023?

You may be someone who sets goals or New Year’s resolutions, or perhaps you have never sat down to begin a year intentionally. At a minimum, a truly beautiful practice is to end the year in grateful prayer and in conversation with God about where He wants to lead you next. You can think of it like an end-of-year Examen prayer.

You can ask yourself: for what am I grateful in my life this year? Did I get a promotion, overcome an illness, successfully complete a big project, gain new customers, or welcome a new family member? Perhaps something even simpler than that occurred?

Where did I fall short? Where could I have been more generous, more patient, more trusting? Was I a good steward of my God-given gifts?

Then ask God to help you see your life, choices, and actions with His eyes, knowing that He is Love itself. Have a conversation with Him about the coming year. Listen to His voice, trusting that He, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, speak to us when we ask. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The three examples above are just a few of the things we can be grateful for at the end of the year. Can you think of any others, especially in your own life?

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a blessed, healthy, prosperous, and free new year!