St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“Remember the sufferings of Christ...the crown that came from those sufferings which gave new radiance to the faith...All saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown.” (St Thomas Becket)

Lord God, You made a world both beautiful and bountiful,

But we have spoiled it by our erring ways,

And an abject failure to earnestly pray.

In Your loving wisdom You had an answer to this.

Your answer was to send us a Saviour

In the Christ Child born to Mary in time.

A Saviour has been born for us in Bethlehem,

Just as the prophets of old predicted.

You are faithful and true to Your promise to help us therefore.

To rescue us from the clutches of evil, our downfall.

But we need to heed Your Spirit’s call,

Inviting us to enter the new life as offered

By the justice won for us at the † of Christ Jesus.

“According to His promise we await the new heaven and the new earth where only righteousness will exist.” (2 Peter 3 v 13)

This does not have to be at some far off time,

Way, way ahead in an unimaginable future.

We enter a New Year with fresh hope.

Hope that there is a future for us,

A hope that will not be cut off.

But we need the grace of forgiveness to start with,

That with repentance and resolve to change course,

We can look to a brighter, holier future.

We look for healing where mercy flows in pardoning us,

All thanks to the †of Christ Jesus.

A time of peaceful goodness awaits us,

But we have to strive after this, even if in so doing

Temporarily we struggle to regain faith’s composure.

“You cannot see now that for which you hope, because hope refers to what lies in the future... No, we have to wait patiently for what God has promised us in the future.” (Romans 8 v 24, 25 The Truth)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12 v 12)

The Holy Spirit gifted us in all wisdom and truth by our Saviour Brother, “This is the hope we have because of the salvation we have received.” (Romans 8 v 24) We are believers! We make ready to receive the crown of life we hope for. Therefore please pray and keep praying for all holiness to increase.

Amen.