Tuesday December 31, 2024

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Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica

If we only look at the bad that happens, we easily lose hope.

Good News Reflection for:

Tuesday, 7th day in the Octave of Christmas
December 31, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, good Father, because You made me Your child in Jesus Christ due to the huge love You have for all humanity. Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

1 John 2:18-21
Ps 96:1-2, 11-13
John 1:1-18
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123124.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-december-31-2024

The question of the final hour

Today’s first reading tells us: “Children, it is the last hour.” Well, what is the “last hour”? Is it the Second Coming of Christ? When will it finally happen? Or has it happened already?

For more than two millennia, people have been expecting the Second Coming to happen soon, wishing it would happen very soon to rescue our world from evil-doings. It seems like now would be a good time for it, right? Immorality, attacks against the Christian faith, and other evils are increasing. Where is Jesus? When is that “last hour”?

I vaguely remember a time when we could leave home without locking our doors. Now we not only have to lock up everything, we don’t even feel safe outside the house. Crime has increased; respect for human life has decreased. More people are unemployed. Fewer families stay together. Fewer men become priests. There are too many scandals in the Church. Terrorists could attack again at any moment. And the earth’s changing climate is already disastrous for some people.

Where is Jesus? When is that “last hour”?

History repeats itself; an analysis of historical trends reveals cycles of alternating renewal and deterioration. We are, in fact, at the same part of the cycle as the Great Depression and World War II. This always leads to a period of renewal and rebuilding.

I’ve studied this phenomenon of historical cycles, and while praying about it I’ve gained confidence in the belief that God will once again make good come from bad. For example, I believe that we will see an increase of vocations within the next 10 years (the first signs of this have already begun), because the world needs more heroes, and young men will be attracted to the heroic side of the priesthood.

Keep looking for signs of hope and renewal! If we only look at the bad that happens, we easily lose hope. We naturally want Jesus to hurry up and bring us total victory over evil by destroying all evil-doers and rapturing us from this terrible world. Instead, we should look for what Jesus wants to do now — through us who are his hands and feet and voice — and expect him to bring his victory to earth by making good come from bad.

Scripturally, the “last hour” means the era of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to change the world by continuing the mission of Christ. Instead of relying on his Second Coming, we are to bring Christ more fully into the world – now!

Today’s Gospel reading draws us back to the first hour: “In the beginning was the Word.” Jesus is the first and the last Word. As the old year ends and the new year begins, let us ask: “What will I do in the new year to be the Good News of Jesus and renew our world?”

For more on this subject use our WordByte, “Are we in need of a second coming now?” @ wordbytes.org/social-justice/living-in-a-time-of-major-crises/.

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