The beginning of the Ecclesiastical (Church) new year (also called the Indiction) on September 1st, is – or should at least be – like the beginning of any year, month, week, day, or moment – full of hope.
It is in the Gospel (the Good News) that as Christians we encounter this hope in the saving work of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (Lk. 4:18-19 from the Gospel reading for this feast)
It is a hope that the poverty of our brokenness will be reconciled, and our emptiness filled to be overflowing in our hearts (Lk. 6:38) by the love of the Lord, who empties Himself out of love for us (Phil. 2:8).
It is a hope that our wounded hearts will be healed with His divine love, that seeks to save the world and not condemn it (Jn. 3:17).
It is a hope that we will be set free from the captivity of shame and fear, by our Lord and God, who in His love for us, is willingly bound in strips of linen and placed in a new tomb; that he might free us from the bondage of sin and death. (Gal. 4:3-5).
It is a hope that we will see him as He is, the Incarnate Son of God (1 Jn. 3:2). Who in His love for us, has set us as a city set upon a hill, that we might share our light to the world shrouded in shadow (Mt. 5:14).
It is a hope that in that we will be exalted by humbling ourselves we might be free, as He has humbled Himself to serve us and give his live as a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45)
Indeed this is the “acceptable year of the Lord” as it reveals this hope “which does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rm. 5:5) – even in the chaos of early mornings, preparing lunches, and commuting to work or school.
May we be strengthened and confirmed, in this same hope offered for all humanity by the Lord, as we begin this new Church year, month, week, day, and even moment – and by God’s grace, bear witness to it, for the world around us!