Thoughts for the Day

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 into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he 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 into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

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. (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.”’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The Word is an amazing action, not just a spoken sound. The Word is spoken, and an action happens. There have been hundreds of books written on the subject, and it's enough to say here, that when God speaks the world is created, not perhaps as we see it now, but as the building blocks that made up what we know today. Someone has to initiate the whole sequence, and for me, that is God. This phrase also reminds us of the beginning of the Bible in Genesis: 'In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth......'

John is writing his Gospel much later than the other Gospels,and it is for a Greek speaking world. He uses different symbols for God and at the beginning of his work equates the creation of life with light. John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus, who is pure light, that is pure goodness.

Of course where there is light there is also darkness. We humans swing between light and dark, that is, between good and evil. Even the best of us are patchy people!

As we come to the end of this year, we can look back and be honest with ourselves. Where have we stopped that love going forward through our words or actions, and where have we taken God's light (that is His love) to others? With God's help may we change things in the future?

Lord God,
we thank you for our world
and for all the gifts that You give us.
We thank You for loved ones,
for food and a warm home,
and we pray earnestly
for those who do not have
a home, food, or loves ones.
May we resolve to move
forward into a New Year
keeping closer to You,
and spreading your Word of love.
Amen.