The Last Hour

It is probably not a coincidence that the first reading of the last day of the secular calendar year (1 John 2:18-21) repeatedly refers to our being in “the last hour.”

Primarily, of course, “the last hour” refers to the last period of salvation history: between the Ascension and the Parousia.

It is also deliberately designed to remind us that our time is truly short: the Lord could come at any moment, either with the ending of the world or our individual death (Lord Jesus, have mercy on me).

The placement of this reading is particularly useful on this day, as many people look back on the year now ending and take stock of their lives.

This is the last hour. May we open our hearts to the Lord and offer him everything - our successes and our failures – and ask him to give us grace, guidance, and strength in the time we have left.