December 31, 2025 Wednesday in the Octave of Christmas
Daily Readings: 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18
Children of God: December 31 is the 365th day of the year, the final page of our calendar. For many, it is a time of reflection, of looking back at what was and looking forward to what is to come. The day holds importance not only because it marks the end of another year, but because it invites us to pause, to be grateful, and to begin again. As the world prepares for countdowns and fireworks, Christians are invited to something deeper: to end the year in the presence of the Lord who was with us through every joy and trial, and to begin anew with faith in the God who holds the future.
In the gospel of John, we hear the powerful words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Everything began with the Word, and through the Word, all life came to be. The same Word, Jesus Christ, became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). This reminds us that God is not only the beginning of all things—He is also the one who sustains us through every season of life. The passage beautifully teaches that just as creation began with the Word, so should our lives, our decisions, and even our new beginnings.
Ending the year with the Prologue of Saint John is deeply symbolic. It reminds us that no matter how our year has gone, whether filled with blessings or struggles, God’s Word remains constant. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When we build our lives around His Word, we find meaning even in difficulties and light even in darkness. As Saint John writes, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Many people begin the new year with resolutions: plans for improvement and dreams for change. But true renewal begins not with willpower, but with the Word of God. When we allow the Word to enter our hearts, it transforms us from within. The end of the year is not just a closing; it is also a doorway to new grace. To begin and end the year with the Word is to let God guide the story of our lives.
Children of God: As we stand between the past and the future, let us give thanks for the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, who has walked with us all along. May we begin every new day, every new year, and every new chapter with His Word in our hearts. For in Him, everything finds its meaning and every ending becomes a new beginning.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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