We all make promises. Most of us just made promises to ourselves last month in the form of the famous (or infamous) New Year's resolutions. And most of us won't keep most of these promises. The issue is not intentions — these are usually good — but what we might call "sustainability." Can we sustain our efforts long term? Is this something we can grow into, live with and really actualize for months and years to come? Whether it's hitting the gym more, losing weight, reading more, saving more, or re-engaging a long lost hobby, our eyes are usually bigger than our stomachs.

But some promises are more important than others, and these can't be dismissed with a smile and shrug. This is because these promises affect our wives, husbands, children, friends and others close to us and pertain to the long-term viability of marriages and other vital relationships. These are "no brainers"; we need to make them work. We take them seriously because follow-through is not optional: there are serious consequences if we don't.

This is a positive thing. We need to take our spousal and familial responsibilities seriously. We need reality checks, and we need to have clear and sensible priorities. It's good to respect promises we make to our wives, husbands, parents, children, and friends.

But what about promises to God? How much follow-through have we shown since our baptisms and other pivotal moments in our spiritual lives — have we allowed ourselves to talk to Him over the last few years, through prayer and Confession? When was the last time you personally prayed to Him, right from the heart? What have you done to grow His Church recently: are you teaching, leading, supporting and helping in His ministries? Is there no connection between those promises to our families and those we've made to God — even though every good thing in our lives starts with God? Have you been denying yourself Liturgy and Holy Communion — if so, why? When did the wall go up … when did you decide that He couldn't possibly love you anymore or care about your life? What happened, wasn't there supposed to be a relationship here — promises, commitments and follow-through?

If you find yourself away from Him right now, sick but afraid to see the doctor, in need of healing but unwilling to approach the Physician of our souls and bodies — you're not alone. Everyone experiences doubt; everyone drops the ball. Everyone has down times. The key is not to stay there. The key is a change of heart.

This month, we'll once again begin our Lenten "My Promise to the Lord" program. Consider this your personal invitation to reconnect with our Lord — to start making promises to Him again, ones you plan to keep. You'll be asked to look at your life, to look in the mirror. If you don't like what you see — and we all have things that need transformation — you'll write Him a letter, and you'll make Him a promise. You'll make a plan and work on this promise throughout Lent, and you'll gain strength, fellowship and sacramental power along the way, by His grace. If you make a promise you intend to keep, and you work hard at it and lay it in God's hands, I guarantee you'll be transformed.

And after Lent, you'll keep working. The good news is you won't have to do it alone. The Lord's Church will be here with you right along.

I hope to see everyone on February 19th — Clean Monday — at the evening Great Compline Service. This is the major “kick off event” each year for Lent. We'll pray together, welcome this time of transformation into our lives, drop our Promise Letters into the Promise Box, and share a simple meal. This will be the start of something beautiful in your life.