Mass for Christmas Day – Human and Divine

“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” (John 1:1-5).
 
John’s poetry in this Gospel explains how, throughout history, God has revealed himself through the Scripture and, ultimately, by taking on human flesh in Jesus. God’s Word and God’s light took flesh in Jesus who was human while remaining divine. This is the Incarnation.
 
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
 
John’s Gospel proclaims, “No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him” (John 1:18). God once walked among us in human form and remains in our midst in bread and wine blessed and shared, in the beauty of creation, in light kindled in darkness, and in the love of a husband and wife. He is present in biblical words proclaimed and heard, in handshakes extended in peace, and in the men and women who gather in his name for worship. God lives within us through the Holy Spirit.
 
How can you reveal God’s Word and God’s light in your life?
 

Adapted from PrayerTime: Faith-Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels, available from the RENEW International online store.