Gospel: December 31, 2025
December 31, 2025 (Wednesday)
7th Day in the Octave of Christmas
Psalter: Proper/(White)
St. Sylvester I, pope
Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
1st Reading: 1 John 2:18-21
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 were made through him, and without him nothing came to be. Whatever has come to be, found life in him; life, which for human beings, was also light, light that shines in darkness, light that darkness could not overcome. A man came, sent by God; his name was John. He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light; for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone. He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him. He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him, but to all who received him, he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name. These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father: fullness of truth and loving-kindness. John bore witness to him openly, saying, “This is the one who comes after me, but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me.” From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor. For God had given us the law through Moses, but truth and lovingkindness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God-the-only-Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.
Reflection:
“Christ, the Word, is the foundation of reality.”
George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four” presents a chilling account of how a society can be radically damaged by separating itself from truth and reality. In the book, much effort is made by the political regime to rewrite history so that its image remains untarnished. Truth is fundamental to our lives at all levels. In the language of Saint John, to be against truth is to be anti-Christ, since Christ is the Truth in person. The Word made all things. As such, they have a truth and goodness about them. Therefore, Christ the Word is the foundation of reality, and he calls us to live in the truth and to serve the truth. Ultimately, to speak the truth means serving Christ the Truth, but even those who have yet to come to Christ are serving him by being faithful to the truth of things. At the turn of the year, as we look back, let’s not rewrite or ignore the past to avoid our faults and failings. Let’s acknowledge them, learn from them and seek pardon. Let’s also look to the future with hope, and with the desire to walk in the light of Christ, to walk in the light of Truth.
