John 1:1-5

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 into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

At the end of the year we go back to the beginning of St John’s gospel and to the beginning of time. As we cross the bridge to 2009, we recall that the greatest thing of all happened at the beginning and that God is eternal and that we ourselves are graced from the beginning of conception and life, and graced forever. A time of prayer may enable us to reach back in the time-span of our own life and to give thanks that, all along the years of our life, God has been present, guiding us and guarding us. As this was in the beginning, it will always be for God’s love and life is for eternity.