Homily For Saturday Within The Octave of Christmas, 31st December, 2022

Readings : 1 John 2:18-21, Ps 96, John 1:1-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO END THE YEAR WITH THANKSGIVING TO GOD 

Today marks the end of the year 2022, as we look forward to the beginning of the new year, we have to keep our focus steadily towards the goal of knowing Christ and his mission and purpose for us. Hence, our Gospel passage today presents to us the unchanging truth about our salvation in the Word of God, Who was with God since the beginning, and Who was God. And this same Word of God has become the Son of God, begotten not created. The Word which came down into the world and became Flesh. Through Him we have seen the love of God for the salvation of humanity. This is what we celebrate this Christmas season, the manifestation of God’s love in the Flesh, in person of Jesus Christ.  

However, many of us despite what God has done in our lives, we have not appreciated this love and this care that he has shown us. Instead, we chose to follow the falsehood of this world, and dwell in sin and shame. To call our minds out of this ugly ways of life, St. John in our first reading today spoke of the antichrists present all around us. For these antichrists are those who seek to cover up the truth of God with falsehoods and lies by committing all forms of evil against God and humanity. We are called today to be careful in order not to fall into their traps of lies and falsehoods. Thus, we must hold firmly to our faith in God with thanksgiving in our hearts no matter the situation we may find ourselves in this world. 

Dear friends, we must learn to end this year with thanksgiving to God in our hearts, for it is not easy to pass through the challenges and overcome the obstacles of the year. This is important if we reflect deeply through the activities of the year. For it will help us to understand better the ugly situation we faced this year, so that we can be well prepared to conquer and manage the situations of the coming year. 

So today being the last day of this year, it is a good time for us to take stock and evaluate carefully how our activities this year had been. We have to spent time to evaluate what our relationship with God has been. We must resolve and make effort to be faithful to God and dedicate more time for his works and mission. Hence, as we prepare to welcome the new year, we should look back and see in what way we can do better especially as Christians so as to live our lives ever more sincerely and genuinely in faith. Therefore, let us remain focused and determined in our faith by making firm resolutions that will guide us through the struggle of the coming year.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for being with us in all the struggles of this year, as we step into the New year, may the light of your presence drive away all darkness of falsehood and confusion in our world, let your peace, favour and blessings remain always with us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.