John 1:1-18 (NRSV)
Read John 1:1-18 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verse 2He was in the beginning with God. Verse 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being Verse 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
Verse 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Verse 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. Verse 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. Verse 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. Verse 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. Verse 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. Verse 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. Verse 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, Verse 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. Verse 14And 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.
Verse 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.'") Verse 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Verse 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Verse 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Devotion
St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach a sermon at all times. If necessary, use words.” We are a people who love words, busy-ness, stimulation, action, and hype, none of which is inherently bad. But the cumulative effect can distract us so much that we miss the point of life. We miss the Word. The apostle John observed that Jesus came to his own people, but even they failed to recognize him.
Silence and solitude are so critical to a living, vibrant spirituality and faith. Likewise, awe, wonder and mystery are central to life with God. John indicates the Word became a human being and lived right in our midst, full of grace and truth, and we have basked in his glory.
Don’t miss the point this Christmas: “To all who receive him, who believe in his name, he gives power to become his children.”
Prayer
Gracious Lord, grant us the supreme grace this day to trust, surrender and relinquish all, so that we might receive what you have in store for us and respond with gratitude. Amen.