As we stand now on the threshold of the New Year, today’s reading has particular power and significance for us. Hopefully, after the reflections of Advent, things that we wish to leave behind have been placed into the Sacrament of Reconciliation or dealt within some other way which leaves our consciences clear.

Some we will inevitably take with us but it is good to bring to mind the truth that St John places before us today - the love that God has lavished upon us by letting us be called God’s children. The God who created the universe - who knows each star by name - calls you his son or daughter.

But that is not the whole of it - we are God’s children now - but, as John says, what we are to be in the future has yet to be revealed. As if it were not enough to be children of God, an even greater destiny awaits us!

We cannot imagine what that might be - and for some of us, the prospect a new year in which to find out more may not be an attractive one. However, it is in that promise that we look ahead - and walk into the future with confidence that God walks into it it with us.

To paraphrase part of a letter of Brother Roger of Taizé:

“Welcome the coming year* as irreplaceable and unique, the year* in which God is present. Look how to live it with a heart that trusts. The past is buried in God, and of the future he also takes care”.

We cannot know what lies before us - only that it offers an opportunity to continue to grow into the people God created us to be. There will be pain, no doubt, for that is part of life - but there will be joy and much to give thanks for. The God who has lavished his love upon us in adopting us as his children will continue to bless us and keep us - and, where necessary, dry our tears.

If we continue to believe in Jesus and love one another, then we can be sure that we are progressing on the past that leads to the ultimate threshold of eternal life - where “what we are to be” is finally revealed to us in all its glory.