It’s New Year’s Eve. Another year has gone by, and we are all looking forward to the hopes and possibilities of a new year. Are you making any New Year’s resolutions?
Although there is still one more day of trading to deal with, the stock market seems to have liked this year. The media tells us that unemployment is down. The majority of our Armed Forces have come home from deployment. The number of uninsured people is significantly lower at the end of this year than it was at the end of the last. These are all indications that the last year was less hard on our pocketbooks and wallets.
At the same time, 2014 brought with it more disease in the ugly specter of Ebola, more terrorism in the atrocities of ISIS and ISIL, more dissension in the events of Ferguson and New York, more corruption and flaunting of God’s laws by people of every walk of life. There is no question that sin is still very much present in our world.
One of the best things about the Advent-Christmas Season coming at the end of the calendar year is the fact that our news programs on television have been running the usual stories about generosity and good will. Food pantries have been bustling. Toy collections and distributions have inspired many to reach out to the less fortunate. Many, many people have gone out of their way to help others. Just yesterday I got an e-mail that stated that Franciscan Outreach had been able to get 258 homeless people off the streets in 2014.
How will we spend New Year’s Eve? I am sure that there will be a variety of responses to the past year. However, I am personally going to engage in an age-old practice; namely, as the sun sets on 2014, I will sing the “Te Deum.” Despite the fact that not all was “sweetness and light” in 2014, what better way to say good-bye to the old year and welcome the new than with a song of thanks to our God who has always been faithful to the promises we have heard in the Gospels and in the Scriptures. God is with us.
O God, we praise You, and acknowledge You to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships You.
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to You:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Your glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise You.
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges You:
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Your adorable, true and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, You are the King of glory!
You are the everlasting Son of the Father.
When You took it upon Yourself to deliver us,
You didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, You opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that You will come to be our Judge.
We, therefore, beg You to help Your servants whom You have redeemed with Your Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Your Saints in everlasting glory.
V. Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance!
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.
V. Every day we thank You.
R. And we praise Your Name forever, yes, forever and ever.
V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
V. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in You.
R. O Lord, in You I have put my trust; let me never be put to shame.