General

A reflection by Sr. Meny, rc for the New Year:   I recently rediscovered a book by Fr. Karl Rahner entitled “Everyday Faith.”  It was published in 1968 so it turned 50 years old this year.  I had a vague memory that I was moved by one of his reflections on the new year, so I had to search again for the book.   For those of us who “know” Karl Rahner, he seems so totally out of reach for us ordinary mortals.  His sentences can be kilometric to say the least, and one has to delve deeply into his words to even have an initial understanding of what he is talking about.  Yet, some of his reflections come across to me as profoundly simple in its beauty, in spite of the many words.  This is true for me in his new year’s meditation, “Spiritual Balance Sheet of a Year” (pages 47-51, Everyday Faith).  As I look back at the past year and welcome a new one, I once again found myself moved by his words: “Who preserves the past, enduring, irrevocable year for us? God.  He knows it, and in his sight, it remains present.” He says no matter how we feel about the past year with its sorrows and failures, and joys, we thank God for it because all have been blessed and graced.  For it is God who has given us all the days of the year. So we bid farewell to the past year with deep gratitude because God has been; was there. And we welcome the new year because God is coming with us; because we know, He will also be there in each day of the new year.  Karl Rahner says “ we can take ourselves heartened into the new year because He takes responsibility for what He has made.  He answers for world history and the life of each one of us.    He has encompassed us with His goodness, his love and His fidelity.”   God is coming with us into the new year.  So we are able to enter into the new year with deep faith, hope and courage because He comes with us.