Spiritual Resolutions?

by Mary Jeppson

      We are now into the second week of the new calendar year. Many of us probably made New Year Resolutions and have already begun to forget about them.  Just one more bowl of ice cream, another cigarette and I’ll start the diet tomorrow. When we make the resolutions for the New Year are we including spiritual resolutions as well?

      A few years ago, my neighbor asked me to come over to a Christmas party they were hosting and accompany them as they sang Christmas carols.  They were a group of Lutherans and I was told “they love to sing.” They did not disappoint! After the caroling was over they went upstairs to enjoy dessert. I was gathering the song sheets and putting my accordion in its case and realized one gentleman had stayed behind. My neighbor had introduced us earlier and told me he was their President a similar position as our Bishop. We began to converse and I soon realized he knew more about MY Catholic faith and My Pope, John Paul II, than I did…a cradle Catholic. He was very kind to me and was not condescending. However, as I left the party and walked across the lawn to my home, a feeling of embarrassment came over me.  I didn’t even know the Pope’s given name. 

      This ignited a desire in me to learn more about my faith and the pope. I was soon reading books and articles on the life of John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Padre Pio and many other Saints.

      The next opportunity to learn came when our parish offered the Great Adventure Bible Study classes. The study is put together by Jeff Cavins and associates who are catholic bible scholars. There is a reading assignment, study questions, group discussion of our homework and then we watch a DVD by Jeff Cavins explaining what we just read and discussed. I like these classes because in the DVD, Jeff Cavins brings the bible to life for us and how the old and new testaments are related. We learn if we understand the traditions of the Jewish people at that time, then we can better understand what we are reading. For me personally, the readings at Mass now come alive. There is more meaning of the Word because of the bible study classes. I am by no means a bible scholar and I can’t quote scripture by memory but becoming familiar with the bible and what it teaches us gives me great joy in learning God’s word.

      Advent started the church’s New Year and now 2009 began our calendar New Year. Challenge yourself to make a few spiritual resolutions and commitments to spend more time with Jesus (in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel), to learn more about our catholic faith (Library and Religious Education office) and discover ways to serve our parish.

      Oh, by the way, his given name is Karol Jozef Wojtyla.