The pope says to "not be afraid" of the new year

In his homily celebrating Mary, the Mother of God,

The Holy Father assured that both the year that was ending and the one on the horizon are both under the gaze of the Virgin Mother of God: "The maternal presence of Mary assures us tonight that God will never abandon us, if we entrust ourselves to him and follow his teachings. To Mary, then, with filial affection and trust, let us present our hopes and desires, as well as the fears and the difficulties we carry in our hearts, as we bid farewell to 2008 and prepare ourselves to welcome 2009."

He continues to tell us

"Our great hope as believers is eternal life in communion with Christ and with the whole family of God. This great hope gives us the strength to confront and overcome the difficulties of life in this world.

"The Holy Father assured that both the year that was ending and the one on the horizon are both under the gaze of the Virgin Mother of God: "The maternal presence of Mary assures us tonight that God will never abandon us, if we entrust ourselves to him and follow his teachings. To Mary, then, with filial affection and trust, let us present our hopes and desires, as well as the fears and the difficulties we carry in our hearts, as we bid farewell to 2008 and prepare ourselves to welcome 2009."

It makes me think of an article I was reading the The Word Among Us, that my mother gives me each year for Christmas about Rejoicing in the Lord always by starting the day each and every day positioning ourselves in Christ with a prayer something like this:

"Jesus, I want to know you. come and open the eyes of my heart. Show yourself and your mighty power to me. Lord, I want to see you."

or,

"I want to receive more of the Holy Spirit today. I will put my faith in Jesus today and trust that He will give me what I need."

Navigating through the waters of life is hard, the future unknown, the sizable problems with our world daunting, but if we continue to daily remind ourselves that Christ is there for us, we can find hope. Mary, Paul, and so many other amazing saints rejoiced in Christ through tough times and scarying situations, we must, too.

Besides, you don't take a vitamin one day and expect it to work for you indefinitely, you must continue to take it to continue to reap the benefits, same with prayer, same with self-reasurance of the hope and faith we have in Christ.

May the peace and joy of Christ Jesus be with you and your families now and forever.