A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to 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.
REFLECTION: As we arrive today, at the verge of a new year, I cannot help seen the numerous advertisements, or better put, cultural noise of resolutions, gym memberships, and ways to finally organize our closets. In past years, I too have gotten caught up, and been victim, of those advertisements and resolutions, even as recent, as 2025.
But the Church, in her wisdom, gives us something far more profound, on this day—NOT A TO-DO LIST, but a person. NOT A SELF-IMPROVEMENT PLAN, but the Introduction of John’s Gospel, perhaps the most, theologically dense, eighteen verses in all of Scripture.
John doesn’t start his Gospel with the birth of Jesus, or the genealogy of Jesus. He starts, before time itself: “In the beginning” he says. These words purposely echo Genesis, but John takes us even deeper. Before creation, before the first light pierced the darkness, before anything was made—there was the Word. And this Word wasn’t just with God; this Word was God.
Think about what this means for your new year. Every resolution we make, every fresh start we attempt, every time we say “this year will be different”—we’re trying to create something new in our lives. But John tells us, that all true creation, all genuine newness, comes through this Word. “All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.” We cannot create authentic newness in our lives, without Christ. He is not just a good example, or helpful guide for our self-improvement—He is, THE VERY SOURCE, of all life and light.
Jesus, the eternal Light and Life, entered our world, bringing God’s fullness—grace upon grace. This New Year, let’s embrace this Light: acknowledge Jesus, as God’s ultimate revelation, receive the power He gives, to become His children, and carry His grace and truth, into the darkness, making our lives, a reflection of His glory. And how do we do that? Perhaps, instead of focusing on what you need to fix about yourself, focus on deepening your relationship, with the One, who can truly transform you.
This might mean, committing to daily prayer, even just five minutes of quiet time with Scripture. It might mean, returning to Confession regularly, allowing Christ’s mercy to wash away, what holds you back. It might mean, going to daily Mass when you can, receiving the Eucharist—the Word made flesh, given to us as food. It might mean, one concrete act of charity each week, recognizing Christ, in the faces of those, who need our love.
ACTION FOR THE DAY: As you meditate on today’s Gospel, and the meaning for you, let this be your New Year’s resolution: to receive Him more fully, to let His light shine more brightly in your life, and to share that light of Jesus, with everyone you meet.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
