Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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. The Gospel of the Lord

The Year is Ending—So Much to Be Thankful For!

1. Light shines in the darkness. If you live truthfully and act from the heart, don’t be afraid, because eventually everything comes to light. Don’t get discouraged or give up, because when it seems all hope is lost, light appears and reveals everything. As long as you seek and desire the truth about yourself and your life, things will work out. The real trouble begins when you lie to yourself and become comfortable living with that lie. Let the light within you shine. Yes, the flaws may be exposed, but it’s easier to clean and fix what you can see. Don’t let the fear of being truly seen force you to live in distress. The light of God is within you and continues to shine. You are called to illuminate others. Please choose to shine.

2. They did not accept him. Many people, me included, struggle to welcome Jesus. Maybe this year was hard for you. Take a moment to reflect: How many times did you see God’s hand in your life this year? So much happened—annoyances, joys, all in just one year! You might be thinking, “I can’t wait for this year to end,” while others are grateful for its beauty. No matter how you feel, remember: “The battle continues,” and Heaven is our goal.

3. Child of God. There is nothing more wonderful than being aware of your worth because you are a child of God, and that is your dignity. Respect and value yourself, knowing you have much to offer and can encourage others. May God fill you with the peace only He can provide.

Let us be grateful today for the many graces we have received this year. I want to end with a prayer that comes from my heart:

“Jesus Christ, Lord of my life, I am thankful for the crosses I have received and overcome. Thank you for what I complained about, but that today, I see as my salvation. 

I am thankful for all the people that made me smile, because they lightened my load and made me happy. Thank you for the people that made me cry because I discovered that in life one can also falter, but that it is essential to stand up again. Thank you, God, for showing me that what I do in life, I do with passion. I am thankful for the people that pray for me without me knowing, because when I die, I will know all the good they did for me. Thank you for my life because I see how complicated and beautiful life is. Thank you, God, for always being with me and never letting go of me. Amen”

Remember that something good is on the way! 

God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.