End of the year

You will agree that this night differs from the others during the year. Many people look forward to this night: even you, your children, and you, those born earlier. The explanation is simple. New Year’s Eve is the only one of the year. The old year is ending …. and we want to welcome the New Year …. This night traditionally includes entertainment, wishes, shaking hands, kisses, champagne, fireworks … indeed, this night in the last days of the year is also preceded by something serious, often raising question marks, seriousness in the face. These are accounting, evaluation, control, revisions, but also statistics. This night also includes thanking God for all the graces, gifts, and blessings … we believers should indeed reflect on our relationships, attitudes, and opinions about ourselves and others and evaluate the things and events of the past year.

St. invites us to these thoughts. John the Apostle said: “I have not written to you as if you did not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.” (1 John 2:21) We know that out of the 27 books of the New Testament, John wrote three more letters in addition to the fourth Gospel and the Apocalypse. These words are from the first book of John. He addresses them to all who have believed in Christ as God. With an instructive preaching style, he wants to lead everyone to reflect, to consider, and even to warn about the message of salvation. When John wrote these words, he was already old. Not senile. From the moment he met Jesus, his life changed. He believed in the divinity of the Teacher, Jesus Christ. After his ascension to heaven, he writes words for himself and others, thinks, ponders, and becomes convinced that it is necessary to build on the goal that Jesus sat with his teachings. His brothers from the school of Jesus, the apostles, had all already died a martyr’s death for the words of their Teacher. He sees the difficulties caused by heretics who do not understand the teachings of Christ and teach incorrectly, spreading errors, mistakes, and delusions. Peter’s successor must struggle with false teachings that distort the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ, even denying the incarnation of the Son of God, his redemptive work, and death while boasting of special knowledge about God. They imagine that they are stronger than sin, and therefore they indulge in a life of freedom and fundamentally refuse to keep God’s commandments. Against those who, in fact, already exclude themselves from the community of believers through sin, he writes a letter in which the Apostle John emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came to this world in human flesh and brought actual knowledge of God, as well as the possibility of overcoming sin, keeping God’s commandments, and living a life of active love.

We realize that the life of a Christian is a consequence of his communion with God. The criteria of a true Christian life are doctrinal and moral. It is up to us to observe the doctrinal criteria, which include observing the teachings that Jesus taught, listening to the Magisterium of the Church, and believing and confessing that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God. It is also necessary to respect the moral criteria: avoiding sin, walking in the light of Christ’s words, acting justly, and keeping the commandments, especially love. The Christian then builds communion with God, brothers and sisters, overcomes sin and the world, protects himself from sin, and lives in the joy of union with God.

John’s words highlight the basic principles of Christian life, especially the inner relationship with God and love for neighbor. We realize that by fulfilling God’s commandments and our authentic life of faith and love, especially in everyday life, we have hope for eternal life in the Kingdom of God. We are not attached to anything that would hinder us and ultimately prevent us from reaching the goal offered by Jesus.

What happened to a group of tourists who were vacationing on the shore of a lake? In the afternoon, they decided to go to the other side to have fun in a restaurant. They quickly and easily crossed to the other side in a boat. The fun was a success. When they decided to return, it was already dark. In a good mood, they got into the boat and started rowing. There was no shortage of laughter, jokes, and songs; they even had a drink. They rowed and rowed, but they could not see the other side. They were shocked at how this was possible. Dawn slowly began to break. They discovered why they were not yet on the other side of the lake at dawn after several hours of hard rowing. Someone had tied their boat to a long rope on the ramp on the shore.

Our lives can be compared to the people in the boat. It is time to work and have fun. It is also necessary to rest. The end of the civil year is when we realize our relationship to ourselves and God. It is right to know the truth about ourselves, how we live, the meaning and goal of our lives, attitudes, views, relationships, opinions, and how to express our inner and outer reactions.  Life is like a boat. From birth to death, we have specific values from one shore to the other. What if we are stuck in place through our fault or the merit of others? The health of the soul and body cannot be underestimated. One cannot decide what belongs only to God, such as coming into the world or leaving it. It is also necessary to realize that the consequences of original sin cannot be underestimated. God indeed allows trials to come upon us out of love, but God does not stop loving us.

This hour is also a manifestation of God’s love. Now is the time to know how to give thanks, ask for forgiveness, and seek new graces for the new year. Jesus’ words, “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice” (John 18:37), were not only actual before Pilate. Today, we realize the relevance of the words of St. John: “No lie is of the truth” (1 John 2:21).  We are entering a new year and starting it in a frenzy of alcohol and noise, or convincing ourselves that everything is fine, is at least irresponsible, stupid and naive. It is right that we not only declare ourselves to God, but we are also his friends, brothers, and sisters. Someone also called this night a test of truth. There is only one truth, and it is unchangeable. With prayer, let us remember this at the end of 2024

Let us pray: God, Lord of times, through the intercession of Saint Pope Sylvester, help us to follow your will in earthly life and achieve immortal bliss in eternity.