Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40
“Let each one examine himself [or herself] to see what he [or she] has done up to now and what more he [or she] ought to accomplish. It is not enough to cite general principles, make resolutions, condemn grace injustices, make denunciations with a certain prophetic daring. None of this will carry any weight unless accompanied in each person by a more lively realization of his [or her] own responsibility and by effective action. It is too easy to make other people responsible for today’s injustices, if, at the same time, we don’t realize that we too are responsible and that a personal conversion is therefore the first necessity.”
Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini in Octogesima Adveniens, Letter dated 14 May 1971.
I think this will be my word for 2025: examine.
We can trace the spiritual practice of “the examen” back to Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). It has five steps.
1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.
I think this will fuel my generosity as it will increase the gratitude in my life and help me attend to my emotions better.
Today Montini teaches us that if we examine ourselves it will lead to a “more lively realization” of our own responsibilities.
That change that starts in each of us grows as others embrace it, which leads to change in our contexts. Rather than point fingers we pray and fast.
We become like Ezra and Nehemiah who rebuilt their people through prayer and fasting. I am excited for what God has in store for 2025.
It needs to start within me (and you too if you so decide). Examine.