A new year is like a first day of Spring. Life smells good and is filled with hope. Even though the preceding year has not been too good, confidence in the new one is stronger than the deception left behind by the one that just ended.
People who live in rural areas give us a good example of that. When Spring arrives, the farmer, the sower regain their strength and courage. Spring is here! It’s going to be a good one! The vigour and energy he is putting into his work cannot fail to produce a hundred grains for each grain planted... as we see in the parable of the sower.
Alone, my will cannot change the world, but my will added to that of many of my brothers and sisters who share the same hope will overcome the natural disasters, the droughts and personal failures. Asking the Lord to bless this New Year is already an “insurance policy” that is worth its weight in gold. And
by adding our preferred saint, St. Theresa, we definitely end up with a winning hand. Every little gesture sowed in His name will bear fruit.
You can be sure that this New Year will be a good one. How could it be otherwise? It comes from God and Theresa will be ever present to add the colour and fragrance of the roses she has promised. And if there is someone on whom we can depend, it is St. Theresa!
Pleasant journey!
Missionaries together!.

Fr. Clifford Cogger, ofm cap.