So let's talk about today's readings 12/31/09

[cheeto1]

December 31, 2009
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Reading 1
1 Jn 2:18-21
Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

Responsorial Psalm
96:1-2, 11-12, 13

R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Gospel
Jn 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.

 

[cheeto1]

“Thus we know this is the last hour”
– And today is the last hour of this year. Do you think this first reading is
anything against the many denominations, or just those who leave the faith
entirely?

“Sing to the LORD a new song”
– That’s it. This line of this psalm has been driving me crazy all year. I’m going
to make it my new year’s resolution to find out what it means in my life.

“From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace”
– The law of Moses was grace, then Jesus was grace in place of that grace.
What now? That is the question of the new year.

Today is the day of Pope Sylvester, the one who started the council of Nicea.
In his first reading, God will gather the Israelites from all the foreign countries,
and settle them in their own land. Did He already do that, or is He doing it?
(Ez 34:13 or 14)

And now, the very very last question of the New Year, in the gospel of Pope
Slyvester, Dec 31 “But you, who do you say that I am?” Mt 16:15.
And Jesus institutes the Catholic Church, a perfect reflection for the New Year.

What was born in our church this year?
What is the new thing in our church this year?

So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:

 

[peary]

1 Jn 2:18-21
Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

prediction of apostasy…or protestantism?

 

[cheeto1]

1 Jn 2:18-21
prediction of apostasy…or protestantism?

Exactly. I am leaning toward apostasy since there is a place in the bible which
says to test all spirits, and the good ones would have to acknowledge that Jesus
Christ is God come in the flesh. And there is another place where Paul is
chastising believers for saying “I follow Paul”, “I follow Apollos”, etc. Instead of
telling them they are not of the faith, he tells them, “No, you all follow Jesus”

Which way are you leaning toward?

 

[Beachcomber]

The question “Who do you say that I am?” is the perfect year-ender and year-beginner.

Reflecting back on the year in one’s own faith journey, how did I answer that, I wonder? And how can I improve on my answer in this year ahead?

There–I’ve got my New Year’s resolution right here.

 

[GraceSofia]

They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge

This is kind of scary, isn’t it? How do we know if we have the anointing from the Holy One, if we are going to endure to the end? Presumably at one time the people who left all believed, or thought they believed, and what happened to them, I wonder? The desertion shows that none of them was of our number, but until the desertion, it is impossible to know what is in another’s heart, and can we be sure about our own heart?

 

[GraceSofia]

I’m often impressed by how the daily mass readings work together.
So today, on this last day of the year, we have, “Children it is the last hour,” and also “In the beginning was the Word.” Beginning and end. The Alpha and the Omega. Awesome Scripture.

 

[Beachcomber]

I’m often impressed by how the daily mass readings work together.
So today, on this last day of the year, we have, “Children it is the last hour,” and also “In the beginning was the Word.” Beginning and end. The Alpha and the Omega. Awesome Scripture.

I had completely missed this connection. Thanks for posting. The Scripture is indeed awesome.

 

[cheeto1]

So today, on this last day of the year, we have, “Children it is the last hour,” and also “In the beginning was the Word.” Beginning and end. The Alpha and the Omega. A

Oh, that’s great. I didn’t catch that either, thanks!

 

[cheeto1]

This is kind of scary, isn’t it? How do we know if we have the anointing from the Holy One, if we are going to endure to the end? Presumably at one time the people who left all believed, or thought they believed, and what happened to them, I wonder? The desertion shows that none of them was of our number, but until the desertion, it is impossible to know what is in another’s heart, and can we be sure about our own heart?

This is a real tough one to think about. The idea, how can we be sure about our
own heart? 1John chapter 2 helps a little. In verse 3 it says the way we can be
sure of our knowledge of Him is to keep His commandments. Then in verse 10
it says the man who continues in the light is the one who loves his brother; there
is nothing in him to cause a fall. In verse 24 it says if what you heard from the
beginning remains in your hearts, then you will remain in the Son. Now on to
chapter 3 verse 14 - That we have passed from the death to life we know because
we love the brothers. And verse 21 - Beloved, if our consciences have nothing
to charge us with, we can be sure that God is with us. I’ll top it off with verse 24
– Those who keep His commandments remain in Him and He in them.

So, I believe we can be sure about our own hearts. But, we can only continue on
with God’s help. Even if we never do anything wrong, how long will that last?
If we sin, we will go to confession. But I bet some people will become offended
instead of going to confession. They will find another church that says they are
not sinning.