New Year Greetings from His Holiness Athanasius Yohan I Metropolitan

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! May the blessings and mercy of our Lord be with us now and always!

What a journey the year 2021 has been. The whole world experienced an unbelievable amount of suffering, setbacks, poverty, crisis, deep sorrow and so many people dying – I don’t need to explain all these to you but here you are, here I am – we are alive. We will not be able to understand it all but isn’t it amazing that we are given the privilege by the Creator to see the last days and hours of this year that we started?

Just as I’m talking to you today, I remember saying these kind of words just before the year 2021 began. So we have every reason to remain grateful. But then I’m sure that just as I have regrets, you too have some regrets in life, like we all do.

We are all humans. We fail, we make mistakes and we say things we shouldn’t have said, and do what we shouldn’t have done, and don’t do what we should have to the people that are closest to us, especially giving them the love, the kindness and the help they needed.

Yes, all of us have failed but the past and the failures and yesterdays should never stop us from looking forward to a better life, a better year, healing and blessings and understanding and experiencing the life and love of the living God, and also spreading this love and kindness to others. But then it all begins with you and with me taking the responsibility to make our lives better, so that this life we create out of discipline and thoughtfulness will create a lasting ripple effect.

So the answer for all begins with that one – it’s you and it’s me, not others. So if that be the case, I like to tell you about 12 words that you can hang on to and think about, to see if this could be your decision to make your life different by taking responsibility for this new year – the year 2022. Here they are:

1. Determine to be honest: Gossip, evil talks, not telling truth. No. Don’t do that anymore. Even if you cannot tell the truth, at least don’t lie.

2. Simplify: What do you mean by simplify? Well, food and clothes and material things – you only eat from one plate, sleep on one bed and can only drive one vehicle. How much more stuff we need before these material things crowd our life and bury us with restlessness and hopelessness?

3. Faith: God will do wonders through His promises H made in His Word. Read God’s word and have faith increase in your heart.

4. Passion: To you that belong to the holy church, as your shepherd and Metropolitan, I would say embrace passion. Tell others about God’s mercy and His concern. Don’t hold it back.

5. Work: Imaginations and dreams and visions will never get you anywhere. God rewards those who work hard. Be disciplined.

6. Kindness: Let this be the mark of your life during this new year – being kind to others, kind to the people who are less fortunate, people who are in need. Be kind to others in your family.

7. Prayer: This word is significant because throughout the day we are told to pray. Pray without ceasing. So what do you mean by that? Well, one simple way to do that is basically what I do throughout the day, continually, nonstop, the Jesus Prayer. It goes like this, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, this sinner.” Pray continually and it will become a massive blessing.

8. Eucharist: Think about the Eucharist. During this whole year you do not want to neglect going to church and going to worship, and the heart of worship is the Eucharist – the living Christ now there for you, to eat His flesh and drink His blood and to be part of Him, and Him in your life.

9. The word ‘Why’: It’s interesting, isn’t it. It has a question mark. Why? Purpose and meaning in life is very significant. But in whatever you say or do or act or decide, ask the question, “Why am I doing it? What is it all about?” It will help you.

10. Reading: That word is very significant because you can be well informed with most the brilliant people from all history just by reading and reading and reading. Make this your habit this new year.

11. Encouragement: Decide to say something nice to someone. Begin with your family members every single day. Something nice about them. Encourage them. Hope, positive thinking, positive words.

12. Silence: Quality of life comes from not talking and talking and talking, and listening continually to music. Find on a daily basis sometime to be alone, to be silent, to think, to think deep, meditate, to be quiet. Talk to God. Find peace.

May this new year be one of the best years of your entire life, and I want to believe that for you and for me. May God bless you and watch over you, protect you, and may His grace and mercy be with you every day of this new year. Happy New Year!