Reading 1
1 Jn 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.
Gospel
Jn 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 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.
Meditation: 1 John 2:18-21
Children, it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
Do these words make you feel a little uneasy? We just celebrated the coming of Jesus at Christmas a week ago, and now we are being reminded that this is not the end of the story. Rather, it’s just the beginning. From the time of Jesus’ birth to today and beyond, we are all heading toward the end of time, when Jesus will come again in glory. Does that thought fill you with fear and trembling? Or hope and expectation?
The truth is, our reactions are probably a bit of both. But whenever we are fearful, it’s probably because we’ve lost sight of the truth we celebrated at Christmas: The light has come into the world, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
We don’t know what the coming year will hold. We may very well face economic difficulties, trouble in our marriage or with our children, illness, or death. But whatever the future holds, darkness will never overcome the light of Christ!
As we look forward toward a new year, let’s fix our eyes on this truth. It’s like riding a bicycle. If you look at your front wheel, you’ll probably veer off the road and fall. But if you lift your head and fix your eyes on your destination, you’ll get there much more smoothly.
So aim high as you approach 2010! Christ is with you, and his promises can bring you hope. You can walk confidently through any type of turmoil because you belong to him. His Spirit dwells in you, so keep your head high. Jesus has overcome the darkness and has raised you above even your own anxieties and fears.
Get goint! Walk on in faith, looking toward Jesus enthroned in heaven. He is patiently unfolding his perfect plan. Who knows what this year will hold? Who knows what blessings God will pour out on you, what opportunities you will have to proclaim his glory, what ways even your challenges might bring others into his kingdom! There is a lot that we don’t know. But we do know that Jesus the Lord reigns over the coming year!
“Jesus, I lift my eyes to you! You are my end goal, and with you is where I want to be! I will look ahead with hope. Come, Lord Jesus!”
No comments:
Post a Comment