Random Thoughts on New Year's Day

For those who are eager beavers and have already taken down their Christmas trees, etc., the Christmas season is only 8 days old. It will last for another 12 days officially, ending with the Baptism of our Lord on January 13. So bear with those of us who observe the traditional season and will still be singing Christmas carols after everyone else is thinking about Valentine's Day.

What is the big deal with that ball dropping in Times Square?

I'm not terribly interested in any of the football games on today, with the possible exception of Michigan/Florida as I am from Michigan and a Wolverines fan. But alas, I fear my boys are in for a rough time of it from those guys down south.

Speaking of football, I wish they would finally get over the whole BCS fiasco and let the teams play a series of playoffs to see who is really the national champion.

2008 is an election year. Now you may be thinking that 2007 was an election year, but that's just because we began the 2008 campaign a little early. You'll be thoroughly sick and tired of the whole process by November, and by January 2009 they'll be revving up for the 2012 elections. Ah, the glory of democracy!!!

For some reason I had insomnia last night. Maybe it's all the stuff I ate before going to bed. I think I'm finally starting to respond to caffeine. I used the time wisely enough, reading from Scripture and the Fathers. I read some really great stuff. It's just that I would rather have been reading it at 2:30 in the afternoon rather than 2:30 in the morning.

Today is a holy day of obligation for Catholics. It is called the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. That's important to us because in acknowledging Mary this way we are saying that Jesus is fully God. A holy day of obligation means that we have special Masses on this day. Protestants will have a tough time understanding holy days of obligation. Quite frankly, I think Catholics have a hard time with it as well. Personally, I can't understand why anyone needs to be told to go to Mass. If one really understands what is happening there, you wouldn't stay away. To me, being told you have to go to Mass is like telling newlyweds they need to be intimate. If every Catholic could grasp that, no one, Catholic or otherwise, would give another thought to the whole idea of holy day of obligation.

All that to say that it was great to begin a new year by going to Mass. Mass was wonderful. It always is!

Thoughts from the homily: we should be filled with the same kind of joy as the shepherds on Christmas Day. This should lead us to be excited enough to tell others about it.

Also: quoting St. Francis of Assisi- "If you want to sanctify the world, begin by sanctifying yourself." We really can change the world if we are serious about starting with ourselves.

I suppose it's obvious by now that I am sleep-deprived. So, "Happy New Year" to everyone!

Peace!