Reading 1
1 Jn 2:18-21
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.
Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1-2, 11-12, 13
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Alleluia Jn 1:14a, 12a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 1:1-18
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
"Children, it is the final hour." –1 John 2:18
On this last day of the year, the Church declares that God the Father is warning His children that "it is the final hour." Many antichrists have appeared and are appearing (1 Jn 2:18). The ultimate Antichrist may even be alive and close to his temporary takeover of the world (see 2 Thes 2:3ff).
As deceptive and powerful as these antichrists are, we who have given our lives to Jesus have no reason to be afraid. We "have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, so that all knowledge is" ours (1 Jn 2:20). There is One greater in us "than there is in the world" (1 Jn 4:4). In Christ, we have "within" us the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17), Who is Power from on high (Acts 1:8) and Who guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13).
"Therefore, brothers, stand firm. Hold fast to the traditions you received from us, either by our word or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself...console your hearts and strengthen them for every good work and word" (2 Thes 2:15-16, 17).
End this year totally dedicated to Jesus by accepting Jesus totally – on His terms. He will empower you to become a child of God the Father (Jn 1:12) and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Then you cannot help but have a happy new year.
| PRAYER: | Father, by Your grace, I forgive, repent, and obey. May I go into the new year with no unfinished business. |
| PROMISE: | "My reason for having written you is not that you do not know the truth but that you do, and that no lie has anything in common with the truth." –1 Jn 2:21 |
| PRAISE: | Pope St. Sylvester I led the Church to the Truth through persecutions from outside and divisions within. |
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