Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 31, 2024
First Reading: 1 John 2.18-21
18Little sons, it is the last hour. And, as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have arrived. By this, we know that it is the last hour19They went out from among us, but they were not of us. For, if they had been of us, certainly they would have remained with us. But in this way, it is made manifest that none of them are of us20Yet you have the anointing of the Holy One, and you know everything21I have not written to you as to ones who are ignorant of the truth, but as to ones who know the truth. For no lie is of the truth
Psalm 96
1A Canticle of David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth2Sing to the Lord and bless his name. Announce his salvation from day to day3Announce his glory among the Gentiles, his miracles among all peoples4For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is terrible, beyond all gods5For all the gods of the Gentiles are demons, but the Lord made the heavens6Confession and beauty are in his sight. Sanctity and magnificence are in his sanctuary7Bring to the Lord, you natives of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor8Bring to the Lord glory for his name. Lift up sacrifices, and enter into his courts9Adore the Lord in his holy court. Let the entire earth be shaken before his face10Say among the Gentiles: The Lord has reigned. For he has even corrected the whole world, which will not be shaken. He will judge the peoples with fairness11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; let the sea and all its fullness be moved12The fields and all the things that are in them will be glad. Then all the trees of the forest will rejoic13before the face of the Lord: for he arrives. For he arrives to judge the earth. He will judge the whole world with fairness and the peoples with his truth
Gospel: John 1.1-18
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word2He was with God in the beginning3All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him4Life was in Him, and Life was the light of men5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it6There was a man sent by God, whose name was John7He arrived as a witness to offer testimony about the Light, so that all would believe through him8He was not the Light, but he was to offer testimony about the Light9The true Light, which illuminates every man, was coming into this world10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him11He went to his own, and his own did not accept him12Yet whoever did accept him, those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the sons of God13These are born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God14And the Word became flesh, and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, glory like that of an only-begotten son from the Father, full of grace and truth15John offers testimony about him, and he cries out, saying: "This is the one about whom I said: ‘He who is to come after me, has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ 16And from his fullness, we all have received, even grace for grace17For the law was given though Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ18No one ever saw God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he himself has described him
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of truth, light, and divine sonship. The first reading from 1 John 2:18-21 warns of the last hour and the emergence of antichrists, emphasizing that these individuals were never truly part of the community. It reassures believers of their knowledge of truth through the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from John 1:1-18 presents Jesus as the eternal Word, creator, and light in darkness, who becomes flesh to dwell among us, offering sonship to those who believe.
Contextually, 1 John addresses early Christians facing false teachings, urging them to remain steadfast in their faith. John's Gospel, in its prologue, establishes Jesus' divinity and role in creation, introducing John the Baptist as a witness to the true light. Both readings intertwine, contrasting false prophets with the eternal truth and light of Christ.
In application, these readings call us to discern truth amidst falsehood, remain faithful, and embrace our identity as children of God through belief in Jesus. The moral lesson is to trust in God's truth and light, living as His children, guided by the Holy Spirit. May we reflect on our commitment to truth and our relationship with the divine light that illuminates our path.