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.

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!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.

To those who accepted him

he gave power to become the children of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Homily

“The Light Shines in the Darkness!”

It is a long tradition in the Church to mark the end of the civil year as a time of reflection and thanksgiving for the year that has passed, then praising God for his blessings as we recite the great prayer of the Te Deum, looking forward with anticipation to cross the threshold into the New Year of 2021 with hearts filled with hope. But perhaps more than in any years of the recent past, this particular year that ends this evening has been one of sobering obstacles, trials, difficulties, darkness and innumerable complexities that have touched each of us individually, and as families and as a faith community. 

The Gospel chosen for this last day of the civil calendar, known in many nations as the Feast of St. Sylvester, a pope and martyr of the early church commemorated on December 31st, is taken from the Prologue of the Gospel of St. John to remind us again in this Christmas season that Creation began with “the Word, who was with God and who was God.” God’s Spirit bore that WORD into the primal chaos, speaking LIGHT, and light radiated. In the moment of creation, God’s WORD pulled all of creation out of the abyss of the waters and into life. John goes on to remind us that “All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.”

So, what better place to look as we close this year and look to begin our New Year than with God’s creative WORD? As the first creation unfolded according to God’s plan, each and every item received three things:

• A name; A purpose; and A place in the relational scheme of things.

For example, the two great lights, later named “sun” and “moon” were assigned to govern the day and the night, and their place was to set apart time. The culmination of this creative process, set in the lyrical poetry of Genesis 1, was human nature – male and female – created in God’s own image and given the task of continuing God’s creative work by filling the earth with other people and caring for all of creation. 

In his City of God, the great doctor and father of the Latin Church, St. Augustine, wrote of another contemporary of his quoting a non-believer – a man of deep philosophy – who heard the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel and felt that this was one of the most important statements ever made. St. Augustine then explained that it was in the darkness of the abyss, of chaos where faith begins. In the darkness, we yearn for light, in chaos we yearn for life and order, and into such times, GOD COMES TO US – The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And so, throughout this troubling year that is ending we have been looking for a reason  – for an explanation, for meaning, and the WORD has come to us. 

     In a recent spiritual pamphlet I read, the author, a chemist,  reflecting on the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel writes about how chemists and physicists see light. Light is active; it does not just illuminate – temporarily dispelling darkness – but light can fundamentally change what it touches. One molecule becomes another, matter is transformed. And more wondrously, once the light pierces through the molecule, light shines forth even more, in new ways and in different directions.

In this year that in many ways made us feel as if surrounded with deep, dim, troubling and at times frightening darkness, the LIGHT OF CHRIST has still shone on us and we have been fundamentally changed. From the time we were washed in the waters of Baptism, we have become children of God, and we were handed a candle as a symbol for us to carry this LIGHT OF CHRIST with us each and every day. We are called not only to carry this light but to let it set our own hearts on fire with Christ’s life and love. In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to be “light of the world,” and we are told not to hide our light under a basket, but let it shine forth, banishing whatever darkness surrounds us. 

In these last hours of this civil year, in the darkness and cold of late December, what a wonderful sign it would be to light up the words of St. John’s Prologue outside our church, in our homes, and especially in our hearts, so that the LIGHT OF CHRIST shine forth from us, banishing all darkness that surrounds us in these difficult days. Tonight, let us ask God to shine his light on the year that is now closing before we turn to the year that is about to dawn, so that we can better see what we have been through, and what we have been called to do, so that we understand clearly tonight how these past twelve months do fit into the relational scheme of our world blessed and ordered by God.

The light, as St. John states so clearly, “is Christ.” In our first reading, we are reminded that, though it is “the last hour” of the year, we have, “the anointing that comes from the Holy One,” and in this we find light and truth. 

In all of the obstacles, trials, difficulties, sufferings, and complexities we have experienced in this year of 2020, how have we seen or experienced Christ? 

The Gospels teach us how to discern the workings of the Lord in our lives each day. Yes, we are surrounded by a pandemic, but we have survived. We are filled with feelings of doubt and uncertainty about the future, but our strength will always be in God’s WORD and in our shared faith, striving each day to offer encouragement to each other, pray for each other, console each other and uplift each other. 

So, dear friends, as we stand on the threshold of this New Year, let us pray in thanksgiving for the Lord getting us to this point. None of us a year ago expected the year we have just gone through. Some have lost loved ones suddenly; the life we were used to has changed fundamentally; we walk around with masks, maintaining social distance and trying – often with frustration and anxiety – to adapt to this new way of interacting. But we still have THE WORD and we have each other. Let us reflect on “What we can still give?” for each other and pledge ourselves anew to be set aflame with the LIGHT OF CHRST and BE LIGHT to all those around us. 

 

God from God, Word-made-flesh, all things begin in you, and all things end in you.

Let us be transformed by the light that dawned at your birth. 

Let us be aflame with the Gospel and filled with grace. AMEN

Prayers

Celebrant: God of all blessings and goodness, on this New Year’s Eve we turn to you in humility and thanksgiving and offer to you our heartfelt prayers and petitions.

 

READER: For the Church, that she continue to guide and shepherd us through the Holy Father, our bishops and priests so that we can be truly God’s holy people, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD. 

 

READER:  For all nations, that we can each become an instrument of God’s peace especially to our own society in Hong Kong, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

 

READER: For all the many ways you have showered blessings on us in this past year; Lord give us the humility to acknowledge you and accept our thanks in these prayers, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

 

READER: For all the trials we have faced in this past year; Lord give us the strength and grace to overcome any obstacles and bear with deep faith whatever crosses that come our way, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

 

READER: For the departed, especially George Edwards for whom this day’s Mass is offered (pause) and for Gaylord Milbrandt, Monsignor John Alessandro and other loved ones and friends who passed away in these last days and in this year now ending, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

                                                                                                                                   

CELEBRANT: Heavenly Father and Creator, all good gifts come from you. On this eve of the New Year receive our prayers offered in conviction in the divine intercession of your Son, who lives and reigns, for ever and ever. (all) AMEN.

 

YOU ARE GOD (Te Deum)

You are God: we praise you;

You are the Lord: we acclaim you;

You are the eternal Father:

All creation worships you.

To you all the angels, all the powers of heaven,

Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free

you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.

Govern and uphold them now and always.

Day by day we bless you.

We praise your name for ever.

Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

Lord, show us your love and mercy;

for we put our trust in you.

In you, Lord, is our hope:

and we shall never hope in vain.