We have turned the page in our secular calendars. 2026 is here. Although the Church began its new year on November 30, there is still something for us to mark as 2026 begins. We need not divide secular and sacred. The beginning of a new calendar year is for us Christians a moment to begin anew.

I am inherently suspicious of New Year’s resolutions. Maybe that’s because we live in an age of shallow commitments, filled with Facebook likes and reactions that rarely translate into action. New Year’s resolutions seem delightful in the first few days of 2026 and often dissipate into the ether shortly thereafter. But for those of us who are Christians and practice Christianity, this turn of the calendar page is a ripe moment.

I use that word “practice” quite deliberately because being a Christian is far more than clicking “like” or “love” icons on a Facebook post. Being a Christian is something we practice, something that we live out both in word and deed. While I don’t subscribe to the narrative of Church decline, I do think that some of the malaise in the Church stems from a neglect of practicing what we preach.

So, now that the calendar page has turned into a new year, we have a rich moment to recommit ourselves to Christian practices. After all, at the center of our Christian faith is a theology of newness. Christ makes everything new. With God anything is possible. In Christ, sins are forgiven, and every instance of shame and guilt can be converted by his grace into a new future released from the burden of that shame and guilt.

But for those of us who were raised in Christian traditions where duty and practices stifled generosity and grace, we may balk at a return to those practices. And yet, there is a way to claim Christian practices without being unduly legalistic. Christian practices should not be idolized, nor should they be used as magical charms to obtain salvation or favor with God. Christian practices protect us from our own tendency to lapse into laziness or to cave to our modern tendency to do only what we feel like doing.

As we begin 2026, might we revisit the value and joy that can be found in committing ourselves to a rule of life? A Christian rule of life is the spiritual equivalent of a New Year’s resolution. A rule of life is not inflexible, but it should be demanding enough to challenge us. Imagine trying a new physical workout regime that never pushed oneself through a bit of pain and discomfort into greater strength.

If you have never developed your own rule of life, I would love to sit down with you and help you with one. It’s important to remember that any lapse in following one’s rule of life is not a sin. It is either an invitation to go deeper with God or perhaps an indication that a rule is too stringent, especially if there are frequent lapses. For now, might I suggest a few actions to consider for a rule of life as we begin a new year? These suggestions are grounded in the Church’s ancient tradition while considering ways that our own parish’s rule of life might be beneficial to you. Remember that a rule of life is a helpful counter to our modern culture’s tendency only to do what we feel like doing. A rule of life protects us from following Christ based solely on how we feel. Indeed, it exhorts us to do things that we often don’t feel like doing but that are very good for us (rather like taking a bitter medicine). A rule of life reminds us that there are objectively good things in the Christian life that give us life, spiritual health, and make us whole. Perhaps in our modern world we have focused too much on the subjective side of existence.

In 2026, I invite you to consider the following practices for your own rule of life.

Cultivate a habit of daily prayer. Pray before meals, either aloud with your family or silently at work or in a public place. Beginning on p. 136 of the Book of Common Prayer, there are lovely, short devotions for individuals and families that are a perfect starting place for daily prayer. If you are longing for a more fulsome practice, tune in to the Daily Office livestream from Good Shepherd or join us in person. If you are a parent, encourage your children to pray. Set an example for them, remembering that what you do will form your children’s spiritual lives.
In all things, give thanks. Set aside time each day to recall all the blessings in your life. Even if times are rough, there are usually at least one or two occasions for gratitude.
Prioritize the Lord’s Day. This may be the hardest thing to do in a culture of waning Church attendance and of doing things as we feel like it. Let’s be honest: there will be occasions when you don’t feel like going to church. Do it anyway. It will feel onerous, especially when the weather is bad or you’re tired or feeling a bit under the weather. But I would argue that these are the times in which we need the sacrament of the Eucharist the most. Never forget its objective properties, which defy any subjective appreciation on our part and which transcend any online viewing of the Mass. If you have family or friends visiting, bring them to church or let them know that you will be going so that they are clear about it. If you’re traveling or can’t get to Good Shepherd, find a church in which to worship. If you can’t physically get to church, please let me know, and I will happily bring the Sacrament to you at home.
Consider a ministry at Good Shepherd in which you can put your faith into action. Our Social Concerns Committee is involved in numerous outreach endeavors in the local community and would love to expand their efforts. Remember the poor, and find ways to be in relationship with them through service and outreach.
Set aside time for reading and studying the Bible and/or doing some spiritual reading. I am always happy to make recommendations!
Take a spiritual retreat to a monastery or get away for a period of prayer.
Put your money where your mouth is, which means giving sacrificially to God. This will undoubtedly require conversations with your family about how money is spent, which may be difficult at first. If you are a parent, talk to your children about the practice of tithing and sacrificial giving. Try giving to God first and then figuring everything else out. This is a spiritual practice.
In a relentlessly busy and chaotic world, care for your own physical body, which is a gift from God. Take sabbath time, exercise, and care for your own well being.

I have some wonderful resources for constructing a rule of life that I would be happy to share with you. Above all, when creating a rule of life, do it prayerfully. Let God show you the ways in which you need to grow. Don’t be overambitious with your rule of life, while keeping in mind the things that are most important, such as weekly attendance at Mass and daily prayer. May this year of 2026 be a blessing to you. And may God give you the strength to live a life of abundance, for as St. John tells us, Jesus came so that we might have life and have it abundantly.

Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle