SEVENTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD, DECEMBER 31, 2025

PAPA wishes you a Blessed New Year's Eve

MASS READINGS:

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 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.

REFLECTION

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.

New Years Eve is a time for taking stock: restrategize, rethink with a full examination of conscience the year gone by. Is God pleased how we have behaved in 2025?

As we cannot recapture the second that just went by, we are reminded by St Alphonsus Liguori in “On the Value of Time”, if we use time badly, we may commit sin and merit hell, but if time is well spent we may acquire treasures of merits for heaven.

On the last day of the year, the Gospel reminds us of the beginning and the Word becoming flesh, dwelling in us. What came to be was life and this life was the light of the human race. We have received through Baptism the power to be His children. He has given us grace and truth, revealing His Father to us.

Every moment is a new beginning, and New Year's Eve is a reminder to undo and do what is needed to merit eternal life.

Today we acknowledge that when our time on earth is done, we either have our hands full of merits and graces or we show up empty handed.

Yes, better discipline in our lives regarding health, diet, exercise. Yes, improve our prayer life, get closer to God through daily Mass, Adoration, prayers, forgiveness and doing good with acts of mercy and charity. Fill the days with love for Him and others, working out our salvation. Don’t make promises you cannot keep but rather with God's grace ask Him His will for you and enjoy the time given us performing those good works and pleasing God.

Start 2026 with God as your driver. Indeed, time is short, use it well for loving, giving, atoning and working through exhaustion. Take advantage of every good opportunity, accepting our crosses without complaining. Less we forget because we are looking forward, make acts of contrition for last year's faults and sins, and always give thanksgiving for all He has given us.

Happy New Year’s Eve

God bless you