Reflection for Saturday December 31, The Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord: John 1:1-18

Gospel: 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-begotten 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-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

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Reflection:

Before the process of creation there was already God (Genesis Chapters 1 and 2). He is the same God who knocks in our hearts; who wants to permanently dwell in our lives. He is the same God who always tells us that we must always do good and be His light in this world.  

John was the precursor for Jesus, he humbly prepared the way for Jesus. John deflected all the attention that was being given to him when he said: "I am not the Christ and I am not even worthy to untie His sandals strap (John 1:27)."  

Do we zealously follow the example of John?   

It is always thru our daily lives that Jesus is best seen through us: The way we talk the way we behave. Most especially when nobody is looking at us and it is through these unguarded moments that Jesus is truly made visible through us.  

John lived his life with one sole purpose and that is to prepare the way of the Lord. There was no pretension nor double speak he humbly lived his purpose driven life for Jesus.  As we end  this year and we begin the coming New Year. We are challenged by the gospel to let the light of Christ shine brightly in our lives so that those who do not know Jesus very well may know Him deeply through us.  

Finally, before we depart 2022 let us reflect on the things that we’ve done to advance the Mission and Teachings of Jesus. Have we become His light in this world? Have we enlightened others about the true light that is Jesus?  

May we all have a prosperous, meaningful and Christ filled 2023 and God bless us all! – Marino J. Dasmarinas