“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.” JN 1:1-18
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
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 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 Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him. Jn 1:1-18
Merry Christmas!
I would like to focus today on what we believe as Christians because it is quite radical and I can understand why others might think we are off our rockers. Let’s concentrate on one statement, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” Think about this from an outsider’s perspective instead of being raised Catholic.
God, pure Spirit, the Word that made everything out of nothing came to dwell among us. How can this possibly be true? Why would God become Man and dwell among us? He is complete in and of Himself. He knows all. He creates just by speaking. We can add nothing to Him. He does not need us.
Well, Christianity is the only religion in the world with a past, present, and future. God is a relationship of love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Since we are created in His image and likeness we have the same love and Spirit in us because Jesus married the human and divine. God made room for glorified bodies in heaven at the Ascension in Jesus Christ. Love continues to create relationships and grow. Nothing can stop God’s love. He is the most powerful.
If we look at salvation history, we need a Savior because we have inherited Original Sin. We need a light in the darkness to save God’s people.
“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.”
JN 1:6
Christmas goes much deeper than receiving and giving gifts and being filled with joy and peace for Christmas break. Although it is hard to deny this time of year fills young and old with excitement and anticipation. There is something going on here. We need to reflect in our hearts where God dwells (WOW!!!) and listen to Him.
Are we at the present time living with the purpose He made us for? Do we enter each room and ask how we can help others? Are we praying and desiring a closer relationship with Christ every day? Are we gaining knowledge of Christ each day in the Scriptures to strengthen our faith? If not, do you really believe that God became Man and dwells among us?
“But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God.” JN 1:12
“God became Man so man could become gods.” -St. Athanasius, an early Church Father
God has never left us. He is the most faithful. He will never leave His creation, ever. He is the most loving. He is the most intelligent. He is the source of salvation. He is the most powerful, yet the most humble. He is our Creator (we do not exist and continue to be sustained without Him). He is Truth.
He gives us the ability to be holy through the free gift of grace.
“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 Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.” JN 1:16-18
Now, because Christ died on the cross and conquered sin and death, we can be holy through the grace of God and see Him face to face (Beatific Vision).
So, do you believe this radical impossible story of God becoming a man? A Father who is madly in love with His creation and is constantly trying to act on them. It requires us to make a decision. Jesus forces us to make a decision, “You are either with me or against me.” Love is a decision. It requires a faith seeking understanding. -St. Anselm
Today, it starts by listening to the man who was with Jesus from the beginning of Christ’s missionary life to the end, what he saw, and what Jesus revealed to Him. John, the Apostle, writes to convert our hearts and teach us that this event changed humanity forever. There has never been a greater event in human history.
It gives hope to the hopeless (the gates of heaven are open to all), the tyrants power is over (they can kill our bodies, but not our souls), and this life is not the final horizon (O death, where is your sting?!). This event has been studied by more theologians, philosophers, and scholars than any other event. Funny thing is….it checks out true every time. Nobody can disprove it. We are an Apostolic faith, we have eye-witnesses who passed down everything we need to know to live in and with the God Man!!!
Today’s challenge: If you truly believe, everyone around you including God should see it physically and spiritually. Take time to sit in silence each day we celebrate Christmas, the greatest event in human history. Go to daily Mass and receive “God with us”.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YOLO
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