Jn 1:1-18 In The Beginning

Jn 1:1-18 In The Beginning

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Today, we celebrate the Word becoming flesh and living among us. Let us reflect for a moment the scene in Bethlehem. There is much to learn from that moment in time when Christ was born. St. Francis understood this well when he constructed the first manger in 1226.

He chose to be born a child. The Holy Father, Pope Benedict, recently mentioned in a Christmas BBC radio broadcast to the English people that “God is always faithful to his promises, but he often surprises us in the way he fulfils them. AMEN to that! He chose to be born as a child – and a poor child at that. He chose to live among a poor family, a poor nation, a nation under occupation. Someone recently told me that the largest minority in the world is children. Christ wished to live among us as a child. He wishes to be one with us in everything, even in the helpless state of a baby boy. This is the greatness of the Lord: that he would become small for us. Humility trumps all - all empires, all armies, and all forces.

Mary and Joseph put God first. They allowed God to change all their plans. They allowed themselves to put God first in their lives. They made a place for him. And we know what happens when we do that: God puts us first in his life. How do we know that God is real? Make room for him. Open a place in your heart for the child Jesus. Do not allow your plans to get in the way of the greatness of the Lord. There is a lot we will never understand. But with God, all things will come to good. “All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God” (Ps. 98:3). The Shepherds were hesitant to come. It was night. It was cold. It may have been raining. They may have been exhausted. But when they saw the star, they decided, by God’s grace, to set aside all the temptations they had not seeking the meaning of the star. They moved. They saw. They believed. Sometimes we have to take the first steps in order to see the Lord face to face. God exists. I need to open my eyes to see his face.

God’s Love for us. Why did God come to us? Why did he become one of us? I have mentioned this before. The only explanation I have is since God is Love, then he must be crazy! Love is crazy! We do crazy things when we are in love. We make a fool of ourselves to attract the one we love. Love does crazy things. God is love and God is crazy. He keeps his promises but be often surprises us in the way he fulfils them. Today, the Lord speaks to us loud and clear: I will do whatever it takes to win your love. We believe in a God that wants to be loved, wants to be my best friend, and is dying to be my hero! God’s love is crazy enough. We should imitate it and bring heaven to earth to all those who are around us.

Where is Heaven? Wherever the Lord is. Today, he is lying in a manger.

Heavenly Father, you gave us your heart on Christmas Day, your son, our Savior. Through Him, you taught us how to love, forgive and give. We beg you; give us a heart more like yours! We ask this in the one name that saves all mankind, Jesus the Lord. Amen.

P.S. Merry Christmas to all! Thank you for all your love and support. May the Lord continue to bless you now and forever. These meditations have been a blessing for me and I hope for you too.