Here we are. December 31st. The calendar is running out of pages. The feeling of time slipping away is very real today. Our readings capture...
Here we are. December 31st. The calendar is running out of pages. The feeling of time slipping away is very real today. Our readings capture this urgency perfectly with three words: Last, Lies, and Life.
St. John wakes us up with the words: "Children, it is the Last hour." On New Year's Eve, we feel this literally. The year is dying. But John isn't just talking about the clock; he is talking about the urgency of our souls. We often live as if we have unlimited time to get serious about God. "I'll pray more next year." "I'll forgive them later." The scripture reminds us: Time is a limited resource. Do not take this "Last hour" for granted.
John then warns us about Lies. He speaks of "antichrists" and deceivers. As you look toward the New Year, the world will tell you many lies. It will tell you that you are only as valuable as your bank account. It will tell you that sin doesn't matter. It will tell you that happiness is found in the bottom of a bottle or a shopping cart. These are the lies that try to steal your joy.
So, where do we turn? We turn to the Gospel of John, the Prologue: "In him was Life, and the life was the light of men."
While the year comes to an end (the "Last" hour), and the world tries to deceive us (the "Lies"), Jesus offers us "Life" that does not end. The Word became flesh to give us a life that is immune to the passing of years. A life that doesn't age and doesn't expire.
Actionable Step: Tonight, when the countdown hits zero, don't just celebrate the changing of a number. Make a commitment to stop listening to the "Lies" of the world and to center your year on the "Life" of Christ. Start the year with a prayer, not just a toast.
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