REFLECTIONS TODAY
The liturgical year presents to us the arch of the mystery of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. At the close of this year, it is fitting that we go back to the very beginning, not just of his earthly life, but to his divine existence as the Logos or the Word of God. The Prologue of John serves to reveal to us the existence of the Word in the heart of God. It also serves as a kind of prelude or introductory piece of music to the whole musical work which, in this case, is the whole of John’s Gospel. Here the main contents of the Gospel are presented: the incarnate Word who walks among men and women, the struggle between light and darkness, the “signs” of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God through the person and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Salvation history takes the form of a pendulum, starting from above in the heart of God, then turning downward when the Word became flesh and dwelt among human beings, and then the upward movement when Jesus Christ accomplished his mission through his passion, death, and resurrection. When he ascended to heaven, Jesus lifted up humanity to share his glory. In Jesus Christ, “God has become one with man, and man has become one with God” (Christmas Preface III).
First Reading • 1 Jn 2:18-21
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 96
“Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!”
Gospel • Jn 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 (…)
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 Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.