The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

F The Churchi Speaks LU. WIIITBY FREE PRESS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1981, PAGE 5 "We will not travel this road agam" piness to others; neglecting their marriage and family responsibilities; and failing to make others and themselves happy and at peace. The real tragedy of our time is the number of parents who seemingly are unable to get along and to provide a stable loving and happy home for their children. I think we all realize how difficult it is today, with so many pressures on young and old; confusion about right spiritual and n..oral values; and how best to cope with all these. Unfortunately, it seems that more marriages are breaking up over "who's right?" than over the infidelity of one or other of the par- tners. Sometimes people ask, "what are the most important wor- ds in the English language?" Most often, you will hear that the most important words are "thank you". If that is so, then close behind must be the words, "I love you" and "I'm sorry". Just think how often in your own life, or in the lives of those around you, what a difference these words would mean and how much happiness they would give when spoken with sincerity, affection and good will. Not one of us, of course, really knows the length of our life- journey. For some, our life span will cover a.few years. For others, our journey may be a long one. That's why it's impor- tant to change now and to make resolutions for the future. For, as the Lord warned us, "we know not the day nor the hour". I can never celebrate New Year's without thinking of the possibility of death and the fateful meeting with the Lord when He will say either "come you blessed of my Father" or "depart from ye, you cursed". Blame that on my mother. A very devout woman, she was very fond of having her family round her. New Year's was one of those family celebrations which we always celebrated together. I don't think a New Year's ever went by without Mother remarking to the family at some time or other, "I wonder if we'll all be together next year at this time. This year could be the last for any one of us. I do pray that we'll always be ready to meet the Lord when tha t time comes". Jeusus came to teach us how to live in order that we might find peace and happiness and come to the joy of external life. At this time of stock-taking and resolution-making, it is fit- ting and, no doubt, opportune for those of us who-call our- selves, to ask ourselves how well we are living the Christian life and what we might do to live it more fully and completely in the future. A Christian is one who: 1. Recognizes Jesus as his Lord. To be a follower of Jesus means to make Him first in our lives. Jesus, Himself, taught that no man can serve two masters. The focal point and the goal of all endeavours must be to love and serve Jesus. The early Christians summarized their beliefs and practices in the statement, "Jesus is Lord". 2. Live in the power of the Holy Spirit. To make Jesus the very centre of our lives and in Him to love and serve the Father and one another is an impossibility without the help of God. It is for this reason that Jesus sends his Spirit to be with us and to give us the power, wisdom and courage to live the Christ-life. 3. Belong to a Church Community. Christianity is not for loners. Jesus calls His followers to become members of His Body - the Church. No one can truly say that he is Crhistian and be unwilling to join with others in a Community of Faith and love. 4. Loves and Cares for Others. Jesus came to serve. He made service an essential sign of discipleship. "By this shall men know that you are my followers, if you have love one for another". 5. Lives in unity with others. Our willingness to work for unity and in a spirit of unity is a sign of our discipleship. At the Last supper, Jesus prayed that His disciples "may all be one; even as you, Father, are one in me and Iin You,...so that the world may believe that you have sent me." I can promise you that the world will be a happier place ans so will each one if they try to live more fully and sincerely the Chirst-life. May the Peace and Joy of Christ be with each one in 1981. By HIS EXCELLENCY THE MOST. REV. ROBERT B. C LUNE Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto We've just celebrated New Year's. And even though it may be a little late, I still think it's early enough for me to wish all of you a very Happy and Peace-filled New Year. Traditionally, N'ew Year's is a time for taking stock of one's life and of making resolutions for the future. Most people regard New Year's like a milestone - a marker on the journey of life - where one instinctively pauses to cast a quick glance over one's shoulder to see what progress one has made on the journey of life, and then looks quickly ahead to survey that part still to be travelled. As one looks back, of cours, one sees good and bad in every life. Hopefully, there's more good than bad, because, as the poet says, 'We will not travel this road again'. More and more I hear people, even young people, remarking on how quickly time passes by and how short our life really is. It's really sad and a great tragedy to see people squandering their lives on useless things; causing unhap- WHITBY MALL FASHIONS 10% DISCOUNT OFF WEDDING DRESSES JAN· 8,9,10 WHITBY MALL, WHITBY- 576-6708 I *':~* 75 BONUS PRIZES* 5- $100,000 20-$25,000 50-$10,000 00H-EEE! What aBonus D raw Over $ 5Y2 million in tax-free prizes, Including $19 million in Bonus Prizes. And you could be aWinterWinner on January15th. The seven:digitBonus DrawT icket number gives you a chance to wîn one of 5-$100,000, 20- $25,000 or 50-$1 0,000Bonus Przes If your Bonus Draw num - 35 GRAND PRIZES 7-$100,000 28-25,000 **Based on 7 million tickets issued *No subsidiary przes. ber corresponds exactly to any of the 75 Bonus numbers drawn, you're a $10,000, $25,000 or $100,000 winner! That's $11/ million in Bonus Prizes! f he regular sxxdgit ticketnumber gives you a chance to win one of 7-$100,000 or 28- $25,000 Grand Przes. And there are 387,233 other prizes. That's $4,221,000 worth of regular tax-free prizes! GETYOUR1TICKET NOW$100