John 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
The Light Overcomes the Darkness
In silent meditation, while facing the Grotto of the Nativity, I try to recall the history of salvation and God's plan throughout history.
Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
At the beginning, God created man in His own image and likeness. Adam and Eve tried to become gods, despite God and without God. The loving and merciful God came to them asking, “After what happened, where are you going?”
He promised to send a Savior from the lineage of the woman who would crush evil. (Genesis 3:15). Grace overcomes sin and mercy triumphs over punishment. The birth of Christ fulfills that promise, and the angels' song proclaims it (Luke 2:14).
At the end of one year and in anticipation of a new one, Christmas invites us to evaluate what has passed and to prepare for what is to come. What's past is gone, and what's to come is not yet here. It is time, between the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, to examine our lives and the quality of our witness.
In the light of our faith, where were we salt and light? Where did we fail, how and why?
How do we reconcile ourselves with the promises of our Baptism?
How can we make our today better than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today?
The Incarnate Son of God invites us to seek and achieve not only the good or the better, but the best. It is our choice to remain hidden from God's face, or to confess and admit our sins, without accusing others of guilt (Genesis 3:11-13). It is our choice to receive Him or to ignore His person, identity and mission.
The Word became flesh to restore us to the humanity and dignity that He bestowed when He first created mankind in His image and likeness. May we respond freely to His aim and be granted the grace of becoming sons and daughters of God.
With Christmas blessings, may we have faith and bright hope for the New Year!