By Father Barry O’Toole, LC
John 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. 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 is 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.
* * *
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this Christmas day. I
believe that you became a little child to redeem me and show me the Father’s
love. I love you. Your birth shows the depth of your love for me. I choose to
recommit myself today to be a Christian in love with you.
Petition: Lord,
help me to grow in wonder at your love.
1. Flesh: “And the Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us.” For most families, Christmas is a day of special closeness.
We take time to be with each other. We also know that God is close. He is that
“someone” who unites us in love. Today, in astonished silence, we contemplate
the Christ Child. Amid all the excitement and emotion of our Christmas day we
cannot help but stop in amazement: My God lets me put my arms around him. Here
is an amazing mystery of closeness. Here is where all human closeness finds its
greatest expression. It is God’s initiative. He became flesh. He lives among
us. Do I let myself draw close to Christ? Do I allow him to love me? Do I allow
myself to love him?
2. Glory: “And we saw his glory.” For John, the
glory of God that shines in the face of Christ is the glory of love. Jesus
glories in being able to love — in being able to love us. What an amazing God
we have! He defies our reason. His Christmas glory lies in making himself so
humble that he becomes a tiny child dependent on our love. His glory will later
consist in embracing his cross and dying out of love for us. Do I appreciate
this glorious love? Am I ready to enter into its mystery? Am I ready to make my
heart today shine with this glory of God’s love?
3. Grace: “…Full of grace and truth.” The grace
spoken of here is the Father’s loving glance. Jesus brings the Father’s loving
glance to our world and to our lives. He transforms our world into the very
place where the Father finds his Son. The Father is pleased; Christ lives among
us. This is the grace that is Christ: God’s initiative of love. Grace is a
gift. It does not depend on me. I simply have to accept and receive it. I
simply have to appreciate it, as John did. Do I appreciate Christ? Do I try to
make my life a gift like his was?
Conversation
with Christ:
Jesus, thank you for this Christmas day. I know it may be busy, but I also
know it is very beautiful. It is beautiful because you are here, Lord. Thank
you for being here this Christmas day. I want to love you as Mary did. I want
to bring your grace and glory to those around me.
Resolution: Today I will
strive to show special joy and goodness in my relations with others, especially
with my family. I will look for an extra way to make each of them happy today.