The start of a new year often brings with it the desire for a change—a “new year, new you” mentality. It’s a time when resolutions are made, goals are set, and hopes for a fresh start fill our hearts. Yet, as the days roll by and the initial enthusiasm fades, many of us find ourselves stuck in old habits, wondering, Now what? The calendar tells us it’s 2025, a quarter of a century into this millennium, and still, the spiritual growth we long for seems elusive.
As we reach the halfway point of January, the reality begins to set in. The year is no longer brand new; it has already begun its steady march forward. Time waits for no one, and with each passing day, the question becomes more pressing: How do we truly embrace renewal and grow into the people God created us to be? For many, this is a moment of reckoning, as we realise that change is not as simple as flipping a calendar page or making a list of resolutions.
This is not a new struggle. Human history is filled with examples of people yearning for transformation but falling short of the mark. It’s a reminder that true renewal cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. The spiritual growth we desire requires more than willpower or good intentions—it demands a deeper understanding of who we are in God’s eyes and an openness to His grace working in our lives.
Our Call To Holiness
To understand our call to renewal and holiness, we must reflect on our beginnings in Genesis. God, who is love itself, created the universe out of love, not of necessity. In His infinite goodness, God shared this love and made mankind in His image and likeness. In the Garden of Eden, God provided Adam and Eve with a life of perfect harmony and abundance. This was no ordinary dwelling but a reflection of the life God intended for humanity—a life of holiness, love, and intimate communion with Him. Despite the abundance surrounding them, Adam and Eve succumbed to the serpent’s temptation. They chose to eat the forbidden fruit, rejecting God’s will and seeking fulfilment apart from Him.
Though humanity fell, God’s love never wavered. Throughout salvation history, He has continually reached out to His people, calling them back to Himself. One of the most striking examples of this is found in the book of Exodus.
The Israelites, enslaved in Egypt, cried out to God for deliverance. In His mercy, God sent Moses to lead them to freedom. The Passover marked their salvation, as the blood of the lamb spared them from death and foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When they stood before the Red Sea, trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the waters, their situation seemed hopeless. Yet God performed a miracle, parting the sea so they could walk through on dry ground. This act of deliverance demonstrated God’s power and love, showing that He is always working to save His people, even when the way forward seems impossible.
However, as the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, their gratitude and trust in God quickly faded. Despite witnessing His mighty works, they began to murmur and complain. “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death” (Exodus 16:3). This lament reveals a profound truth: though God had taken them out of Egypt, Egypt still remained in their hearts.
Egypt, in this context, symbolises more than a physical place; it represents a state of spiritual bondage. While the Israelites had been freed from their external oppression, their hearts were still tied to the comforts and familiarity of their old life. They longed for the security they perceived in Egypt, even though it was a place of slavery. Their complaints reflected a deeper struggle—an inability to fully trust in God’s providence and to let go of their attachment to the past.
This attachment to Egypt is a powerful reminder of the human condition. Like the Israelites, we often pray for deliverance from our struggles, and when God answers, we rejoice for a time. Yet, when the journey becomes difficult, we can find ourselves longing for the very things from which we were freed. Old habits, sins, and attachments can linger in our hearts, pulling us back toward spiritual bondage even as God leads us to freedom.
The Israelites’ grumbling also reveals their lack of faith in God’s plan. They had witnessed His miracles—the plagues in Egypt, the Passover, and the parting of the Red Sea—yet they doubted His ability to sustain them in the wilderness. This mirrors our own spiritual journeys. Even after experiencing God’s grace and blessings, we can struggle to trust Him in moments of uncertainty.
God’s response to the Israelites’ complaints was not one of condemnation but of continued mercy. He provided manna and quail to satisfy their hunger, demonstrating His patience and His desire to teach them dependence on Him. Yet, their hearts remained divided, yearning for the false security of Egypt rather than embracing the freedom and promises of God.
For us, the lesson is clear. True freedom is not just about being delivered from external struggles; it is about allowing God to transform our hearts. He calls us to leave behind not only the circumstances of our past but also the attachments, fears, and doubts that keep us from fully trusting in Him. Just as the Israelites had to journey through the wilderness to reach the Promised Land, we must walk the path of conversion, allowing God to purify our hearts and align our desires with His will.
The story of the Israelites reminds us that spiritual renewal requires more than a change in circumstances; it requires a change in the heart. As we reflect on their journey, let us ask ourselves: What “Egypt” still remains in our hearts? Are we clinging to old ways, comforts, or sins that prevent us from fully embracing God’s plan for our lives? May we learn from their example and strive to trust in God’s providence, knowing that He is leading us toward true freedom and the eternal joy of His presence.
As we step into this new year, the story of our faith calls us to reflect on our own spiritual journey. Just as God saved the Israelites and invited them into a covenant relationship, He invites us into a deeper union with Him. Through Jesus Christ, the new Passover Lamb, we are offered redemption and the grace to live holy lives.
But renewal is not automatic. Like the Israelites, we are prone to forget God’s goodness and fall back into old patterns. How often do we, like them, long for the “comfort” of Egypt rather than trusting in God’s plan for our freedom? True renewal requires a conscious effort to turn away from sin and to embrace the life of grace. He calls us to turn to Him daily, to seek His guidance, and to allow His love to transform us from within.
Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth
1. Return to the Sacraments: Begin this year by going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist regularly. These sacraments are fountains of grace that restore our relationship with God and strengthen us for the journey ahead.
2. Daily Prayer: Commit to spending time with God each day. Start small if necessary—a few minutes of prayer in the morning or evening can grow into a deeper habit of communion with Him.
3. Scripture and Reflection: Dive into the Word of God. Let the stories of Genesis, Exodus, and the Gospels inspire and guide you. Reflect on how God has worked in your life and how He continues to call you to holiness.
4. Acts of Love: Renewal is not just about personal growth; it is about sharing God’s love with others. Look for ways to serve your family, community, and those in need.
5. Entrust Yourself to Mary: As our spiritual mother, Mary is the perfect model of faith and trust in God. Ask for her intercession as you strive to follow her Son more closely.
The Gift of This Year
The fact that we are here, alive in 2025, is itself a gift from God. Every moment is an opportunity to grow in holiness and to draw closer to Him. As we navigate the challenges and uncertainties of this year, let us remember that God is with us in our joys and difficulties, in good times and in bad, just as He was with Adam and Eve in the garden and with the Israelites on their journey from Egypt into the wilderness.
God’s ultimate desire is for us to live in communion with Him. He has already made the way through Jesus Christ, who is the light in our darkness, the Lamb who takes away our sins, and the fulfilment of all God’s promises.
As we reflect on the early days of this new year, we are reminded that every moment is an opportunity to begin again, to recommit ourselves to living as God's beloved children. Let us not remain stuck in our old self. Instead, let us embrace the call to renewal, trusting in God’s love and grace to transform us. Let us walk forward with courage, knowing that the God who parted the sea for His people will also remove the seas of our lives that separate us from Him, guiding us to the life of holiness and joy for which we were created.
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