Born Of God

 

 John 1:1-18

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

We are accustomed to hearing the Gospel from Luke 2: 1-14, the decree from Caesar Augustus,  the shepherds, the child in the  manger, the angels singing Glory to God in the highest and peace to those on whom his favor rests. That Gospel is used at the Midnight Mass, but the Gospel for Christmas Day is from the Prologue of St. John's Gospel, a more philosophical, theological approach to this wondrous event. The Birth in Bethlehem brings Divinity to humanity in a way never before conceived. The Creator becomes the created to rectify the separation caused by the sin of Adam and Eve and to allow us to be united with our Creator and receive light and life not only for ourselves but for the rest of mankind.  In a sense, this is our birthday too. But first let us celebrate the birth of Jesus and give thanks for the new life his birth gives to us.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, as we exchange gifts and share joy today, let us remember that you are THE GIFT and the SOURCE OF JOY that makes this day and our lives worth living. Amen.