A new beginning ...
OUR GOD is a God who gives us repeated second chances. In the words of Prophet Isaiah, “all our righteous deeds are like polluted garments in the eyes
of God”. Despite our good intentions, we – both king and pauper, rich and poor, wise and foolish, male and female – all alike fail the Lord terribly through deliberate rebellion and sin, and many a times through choices that are not thought out or deliberate. We drift aimlessly into the worldly ways of living in our search for meaning and purpose in life; we neglect the things of God and yield to pride of life. Then, when we are far from Him, we miss the love and care of God; and, we long for a new beginning. And, because our God gives us second chances, He lovingly allows us to restart, to begin again. He also gives us the grace we need, if we would seek His grace, to assist us with the new beginning. Does He not ask us to put the new wine of His love and Life into new wineskins? So this issue of Catholic Opinion is focused on a ‘new beginning’ in Christ, and the joy it brings.
LETTING GOD INTO LIVES
Archbishop Emeritus Donald Reece invites us to be elastic in living the life of God; four of our youthful contributors, Tenicea Hewitt (an affiliate at Franciscan Sisters of Allegany), Sr Nijole Richards (a religious sister at the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help), Mario Burton (a Seminarian for the Archdiocese) and Kerishe Higgins (director of Youth Ministry, Archdiocese of Kingston), speak about the challenge of letting God into their lives. Lucinda Wellington shares her personal journey to God. Deacon Ronald Thwaites is convinced that God chooses from the ordinary people instruments to enhance His Kingdom on earth. For Verol Billett, every act of forgiveness becomes a way of becoming wholesome, and thus finding holiness in God; Dr Polly Bowes-Howell reiterates that love must permeate our households as an effective strategy in parenting our children; and, Most Rev Kenneth Richard, Archbishop of Kingston, invites us to renew our understanding of the Church’s vision in line with the mission Christ gives us.
Every new beginning necessitates a painful experience of letting go the past. It is becoming a people of hope as we look ahead positively to a new experience of God. Are you ready for this adventure?