End of the Year Reflection – Dec 31 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 31, 2024, the last day of the year, and reminds us that we should stay vigilant in faith, that life is fleeting, but God's word and promises are eternal.

Father reminds us of the significance of living in the "last hour" as mentioned in 1 John 2:18, a period initiated by Jesus Christ’s work of salvation. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:11, calls this the "end of the ages," and St. Peter describes it as "the end of the times" (1 Peter 1:20). Reflecting on the brevity of human life, Father quotes Psalm 144:4, which compares life to a fleeting shadow, and Isaiah 40:6-8, emphasizing that though life withers like grass, God's word endures forever.

Father warns about the presence of "antichrists" who oppose Christ and lead others into heresy, a key theme in 1 John 2:18. He highlights the danger of these figures seducing people away from faith, paralleling the insights from Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson's "The Lord of the World." This heresy often denies Christ’s divinity and humanity, urging vigilance against apostasy.

Father concludes with a message of hope from Galatians 6:10, encouraging the faithful to "do good while we have time." The homily draws inspiration from St. Francis and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, urging love and perseverance in faith, even amidst challenges. He reminds us of Mark 8:36, emphasizing the ultimate value of the soul over worldly gains.

For Further Reading:
1 John 2:18 - NAB - "Children, it is the last hour" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?18
1 Corinthians 10:11 - NAB - "End of the ages" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/10?11
1 Peter 1:20 - NAB - "End of the times" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/1?20
Galatians 4:4 - NAB - "In the fullness of time" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/4?4
2 Peter 3:8 - NAB - "A day is like 1,000 years" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2peter/3?8
Psalm 144:4 - NAB - "Man is like a breath" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/144?4
Isaiah 40:6-8 - NAB - "All flesh is grass" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/40?6
Mark 8:36 - NAB - "What shall it profit a man?" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?36
Galatians 6:10 - NAB - "While we have time, let us do good" https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/6?10

CCC 668 - Christ's reign and return: https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c2a7.htm
CCC 1816 - Perseverance in faith: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a1.htm#1816

00:00 – Introduction
00:02 – St. John’s Last Hour Message
00:08 – Salvation History’s Final Phase
01:29 – God’s Perfect Timing
02:23 – Everything Passes Except God
02:52 – Warning Against Antichrists
05:08 – Living and Dying in Grace
06:12 – Starting the New Year with Love

Ave Maria!

Mass: 7th Day in Octave of Christmas - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/123124.cfm
1st: 1jo 2:18-21
Resp: psa 96:1-2, 11-13
Gsp: joh 1:1-18

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1313

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