“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Gospel Reading: John 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.

In today’s Gospel we hear John’s version of the infancy narrative. This narrative does not talk about the manger, nor the three wise men, nor having to flee Israel. Today’s Gospel links Christ to the Word of God we hear throughout the Old Testament. Today’s Gospel introduces us to the spiritual birth of Christ. Moses heard the Word in the burning bush on Mount Sinai. John tells us that “He was in the beginning with God” letting us know that Christ was with God when he spoke to Adam and Eve and when he spoke to Moses. We are told that Christ is the Word of God made flesh; that he is the light of the World. John tells us that Christ is life-giving and light-giving. When Christ was born, the people did not know who he was. John tells us, “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.” John’s description of the birth of Christ is less spectacular then that of Matthew or Luke, yet it provides a much deeper understanding of the significance of his birth. “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.” John tells us that if we believe in Christ and accept him into our lives, we will be born into God. God gave us Jesus so we would believe, so we could see the Word of God.

A Simple Prayer

Christ, you are the Word made Flesh,

You are the light of the world.

I receive you into my home and believe in your name

Because through you all things were made.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon