7th day within the octave of Christmas
Saint Silvester I, Pope
Reading: 1 John 2:18-21
On this final day of the year, within the light-filled Octave of Christmas, Saint John reminds us of a foundational truth: to follow Christ is to stand firmly in the truth, knowing that no lie can ever come from it. The Child born at Christmas is the Truth made flesh, and remaining united to Him protects our hearts from confusion, fear, and deception. As one year closes, this truth invites us to pause with gratitude, for the grace that sustained us, for the unseen protection that guided us, and for the ways God remained faithful even when we were not. At the same time, Christmas calls us to forgiveness, because truth and love cannot coexist with resentment. Forgiving those who hurt us during the year is not weakness but a choice to remain in the light Christ has brought. Ending the year in truth, gratitude, and forgiveness becomes a quiet act of faith, preparing our hearts to begin anew under the gentle reign of the Word who has come to dwell among us. Let’s reflect: Christmas is choosing to live in the truth of Christ, free from falsehood, grateful for God’s faithfulness, and renewed through forgiveness that keeps our hearts in the light.
Don Giorgio