“All leadership in the Kingdom of God is by example.”

"Truth must be sought at all costs, but separate isolated truths will not do. Truth is like life; it has to be taken on its entirety or not at all. . . . We must welcome truth even if it reproaches and inconveniences us -- even if it appears in the place where we thought it could not be found." – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895 – 1979)

Gospel Text: (JN 1:1-18)
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.

And now it's New Year's Eve! Party and dance and music and eggnog (with a little extra nog, please). Wait; where did 2014 go? I had all these plans for things I was going to accomplish. Where are my running shoes; I have to get in shape. I promised 365 days ago! Where's my paintbrush; the house...

But wait, there's more. As I sit and reflect on the past 365 days, I'm forced to ask The Question: Did I make room for God? Did I let Christ thrive in my heart? Did I reach out in love and care to others? Did I call to apologize to that person that now hates me? Did I forgive that person that betrayed me?

Was I Jesus' hands to those in my little part of the vineyard?

Dear God of beginnings and endings, the Alpha and Omega, thank you for the gift of every hour, even this last one. Please grant us the grace to let go of our regrets and failures so we may live the new dawn of tomorrow, and birth your love to the world.