Editorial

In today’s chaotic world, we are called to imitate the love of God

We’re a month into 2023, and it seems an appropriate time to ask: Do you feel any different five-plus weeks into a new year?

Many of us made new year’s resolutions. It may have been among the usual things we hear many others hoping to accomplish to better themselves: losing weight, working on a relationship or relationships, being more productive at work, spending less time on social media.

If you were focusing on your life of faith, it might have included: to spend more time in prayer; attend Mass beyond Sunday; or read more Scripture.

Maybe your goal was to make Christ more present in your everyday life and to point more people to him? Or to be more attentive to see him in every situation that presents itself? And to recognize him in those people Jesus puts in your life?

How are you doing? Take a few minutes to reflect on 2023 thus far, and if you’re like the majority of humankind, there have probably been highs and lows, things that have brought a sense of satisfaction, or situations where you feel you failed others—maybe even Christ.

Because of our brokenness, we are sinners, and it is then that we especially need Jesus. And despite our failings, God never stops loving us.

When we fall, it is at those times that we need to remember we’ve been given the gift of faith and that we need to be attentive—especially when roadblocks or challenges deter us—and realize then is when we need to give our entire self to Christ. We need to slow down and call upon the Holy Spirit to guide us.

And we need to make a concerted effort to become more Christ-centered, to allow the Spirit to lead us. When people encounter Jesus, they are not the same afterward. When our life is ordered, we flourish and that’s when the light of Christ shines.

As we forge ahead during this year, we need to remember Christ can relate to every human experience. He serves as a bridge between the human and divine, between God and humanity. As his disciples, we must remember holiness consists in doing God’s will, not our own.

And as we travel on our pilgrimage of faith, let us never forget: no matter what situation we face—especially in today’s chaotic world—we are all called to imitate the love of God and are always given his help in this mission of a lifetime.

—Mike Krokos