For most people, Christmas is a single day, but for the Church, it is a season—a season that lasts from December 25th until January 6th, the day of Epiphany. These 12 days of Christmas not only bridge two important days of our faith, but they also span the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. Somehow, these things are deeply connected.

On one hand, we mark the birth of Jesus into our world and lives, but we also remember the gifts of the Magi, who trusted the light that led them to Christ.  At the same time, according to our secular calendar, we mark the end of one year and celebrate the gift of a new one.

As we stand at the threshold of 2025, what do we see—and what do we hope for? Where will we place our trust? What do we anticipate? What does this season of Christmas teach us about how we view what lies ahead?

There’s a quote, sometimes attributed to Albert Einstein, that says: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is.” Each new year is an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to transform what has been into something new and better. The miracle of God coming to be with us is only a miracle if we see and recognize it. A new year invites us to commit to noticing God’s blessings all around us.

The birth of Jesus is a powerful reminder of the new life that God offers us. It is a reminder that He is with us, through all the joys and struggles that life brings.

So, as we enter 2025, we are invited not only to reflect on the past year but also to look forward to what God is doing in our lives in the days ahead. This season is a time to contemplate where our trust should ultimately rest. None of us knows what the next 12 months will bring, but if we trust in the God who was born in our midst and who understands the reality  of our lives, we can move forward with faith. We can trust that miracles surround us, and that He will be with us always.