—LAST DAY OF THE YEAR—
Let Go 2018, To Let Come 2019
Introduction
Today the liturgy fits in very well with the celebration of New Year’s Eve: it both looks forward to the end of time (first reading) and back to the beginning: to the Word that created all and came among people as the living Word, Jesus, to make a new beginning with us. And that’s life: the end of what is past, a new beginning to be made ever anew. It was a mixture of joys shared together and miseries that were lighter when they too were borne together. And a time for which, after all, we are grateful to one another and to God. A turning point is also a time of hope. The past is gone; we look forward. We say goodbye and we welcome what is coming with hope, for the Lord is with us; we resume our journey together as God’s pilgrim people.
1 Reading 1 John 2:18-21
Children, it is the last hour;
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
R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him,
and apart from Him nothing came into being
that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not [b]comprehend it.
There came a man sent from God,
whose name was John.
He came as a witness,
to testify about the Light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light,
but he came to testify about the Light.
There was the true Light which,
coming into the world, enlightens every man.
He was in the world,
and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own,
and those who were His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right to become children of God,
even to those who believe in His name,
who were born, not of blood
nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh,
and dwelt among us,
and we saw His glory,
glory as of the only begotten from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John testified about Him and cried out, saying,
“This was He of whom I said,
‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I,
for He existed before me.’”
For of His fullness we have all received,
and grace upon grace.
For the Law was given through Moses;
grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time;
the only begotten God
who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
Commentary
As the year ends, we are told of the beginning of everything. “In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We are reminded that everything comes from God and belongs to Him. God is our true origin and destiny. But things did not go well, for human beings loved darkness more than the Light. Hence, the need for a new creation, a new birth, a new beginning. We are invited to be born of God through His Only Son who offers us the fullness of Truth and Loving-kindness.
We might have begun this year with God, and with several noble resolutions. But things may not have gone too well and we might have digressed from the path. As the year ends, let us take stock and review our life over the last twelve months. Let us be thankful for the many blessings received this year; sorry for the many blessings wasted along the way. And we shall resolve to start again, with God and His Son who offers us the fullness of life. Every end is a new beginning, and we shall walk along in God’s Light. Come, Lord Jesus, and walk with us!
Blessing
Let us go in the peace of the Lord. May the Lord be with you wherever you go. May he bless your coming and your going, your work and your care, your joys and your suffering. As he blessed you the past year, may he bless you even more in the new year: The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Greetings:
The Claret Media of the Claretian Communication House, Lagos wishes all our faithful readers a Happy New Year filled with hope, joy and peace! Let us meet immediately for the journey with the Lord into 2019…