COLLECT: ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, WHO IN THE NATIVITY OF YOUR SON ESTABLISHED THE BEGINNING AND FULFILLMENT OT ALL RELIGION, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT WE MAY BE NUMBERED AMONG THOSE WHO BELONG TO HIM, IN WHOM IS THE FULLNESS OF HUMAN SALVATION. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER”. AMEN.
1Jn 2:18-21 Ps 95:1-2,11-13; and Jn 1:1-18.
Today is the last day of our civil, physical or calendar year-the Year 2025. As we approach the end of the year, the readings we reflect on today, appropriately focus on and draw our attention to the Old (“the last hour”) and the New (“in the beginning”).
It is fitting to evaluate ourselves on our activities, thoughts, and words or utterances in the course of the year 2025, which is just about passing on to eternity. God, through his only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ has been working a lot in this world and in our lives but Satan and his disciples (those who give themselves to Satan and co-operate with him to work against God) are also working hard to oppose, frustrate and destroy the plans of God for us and for the world. Satan and his disciples are the ones John refers to as “Antichrists” who “went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with us” (1Jn 2:19).
Satan and his disciples (the antichrists) are worse than armed robbers, always attempting to rob and robbing God of his due. Just like most armed robbers who will study and be familiar with their area(s) of operation as well as identify what they want to rob and from whom, Satan and his disciples, who rob God were once members of God but have broken away from him (The Church continues to experience this even in our time).
They know and are aware of God’s plans for humanity, and they are also using that to attract believers to follow them. They claim to be for fallen or sinful humanity, and they present themselves as our “saviours” and “redeemers”, yet it is not so, for “All that glitters is not good”.
Jesus Christ is indeed the Word of God that became flesh and he dwelt among us. This Word of God is the Truth and there is no lie in it. He is also the Light, in fact, a great light in the world that has dispelled darkness. This light has exposed all the ways of Satan to us, in fact, his deceptions and darkened ways. Yet Satan continues in his ways deceiving us to abandon God’s Word, who is the Truth, the Light, the Life and the Way in order to follow him.
Anyone who receives the Word of God and believes in him receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to help the Christian to live as a child of Light and Truth. The Holy Spirit shows us the way to God the Father. The Holy Spirit also helps the believer to communicate the Truth-Jesus is the Truth. On the other hand, people who are opposed to Jesus Christ are also opposed to the truth, and the Holy Spirit is not working in their lives. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, we can stand against false teachers and the Antichrists.
As we end the year, we need to critically ask and examine ourselves regarding our allegiance to Jesus Christ against Satan. Have my actions, thoughts and utterances been for Jesus or for Satan? Think deeply about this and fit yourself appropriately.
Saint Sylvester I, whose optional memorial we commemorate today is a great example for us. He became Pope shortly after the Peace of Constantine. Pope for 21 years, he fought the Donatist Schism and Arianism. These were false teachings about Jesus and His Church, which leaders and preachers were once followers of Jesus Christ as well as members of the Church. Their preaching disturbed a lot of believers. Pope St. Sylvester fought against them to defend, protect and safeguard the Church.
We pray to leave behind all activities, thoughts and utterances of darkness and Satan in order to begin this New Year (2026) with newness of heart, mind, and body. May St. Sylvester intercede for us on our pilgrimage here to our homeland heaven, that as we encounter Satan and his Antichrists along the way, we may not fall into their hands but strive and forge on and one day be received by the Lord into his heavenly abode. God bless you as you put finishing touches to this year and begin the New Year. I pray for you and I bless you.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, WEDNESDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
PRAYER: “MAY YOUR PEOPLE, O LORD, WHOM YOU GUIDE AND SUSTAIN IN MANY WAYS, EXPERIENCE, BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, THE REMEDIES WHICH YOU BESTOW, THAT, WITH THE NEEDED SOLACE OF THINGS THAT PASS AWAY, THEY MAY STRIVE WITH EVER DEEPENED TRUST FOR THINGS ETERNAL. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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