Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
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 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.
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory”
Fr. Ferran BLASI i Birbe (Barcelona, Spain)Today, the Gospel is offered in a poetic way and seems to provide, not only an introduction, but also a sort of synthesis of all the elements of this book. It has a rhythm that makes it solemn, with parallelisms, similes and repetitions. The great ideas trace different circles. The highest point of the presentation is in the very middle of it all, with a statement that fits perfectly in with this Christmas time: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory” (Jn 1:14).
The author tells us that God assumed the human condition and lived among us. And in these days we find Him in the heart of a family: now in Bethlehem, and later on with them to the exile of Egypt, and afterwards in Nazareth.
God has wanted His Son to share our life, and —precisely for that reason— to go through all the stages of existence: the Mother's womb, birth, growth and development (baby, child, teenager, and forever after, Jesus, the Savior).
The text continues by saying: “And we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (Ibid). The angels also sang it at that very first moment: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (cf. Lk 2:14). And, now, we see it in the very fact that He is being looked after by His parents: in the diapers prepared by His Mother, in the loving charm of His father —good and skillful— who had prepared such a welcoming place for Him, and in the expressions of love of the shepherds who have come to adore Him, and give Him presents.
This is how this fragment of the Gospel offers us the Word of God —His wisdom— which He lets us share in, it provides us with Life in God, a growing without limit, and also with the Light that lets us see the true value all things, from God's perspective, with “supernatural vision”, with affectionate gratitude to He who has given Himself completely to the men and women of the world, since He came into the world as a Child.
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“Awake, O man, and recognize the dignity of your nature. Recollect you were made in the image of God, which although it was corrupted in Adam, was yet re-fashioned in Christ.” (Saint Leo the Great)
“Those who believe in Jesus receive a new origin. They enter into the origin of Jesus Christ, which now becomes their own origin. Our true “genealogy” is faith in Jesus, who gives us a new origin, who brings us to birth “from God”.” (Benedict XVI)
“The Symbol of the faith confesses the greatness of God's gifts to man in his work of creation, and even more in redemption and sanctification (…). Coming to see in the faith their new dignity, Christians are called to lead henceforth a life ‘worthy of the gospel of Christ’ (Phil 1:27). They are made capable of doing so by the grace of Christ and the gifts of his Spirit.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 1692)
January 12th
The Baptism of the Lord (C)
Gospel and commentary video
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