A reading of the holy Gospel according to John
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, an 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.
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.
This verse saved my faith at one point of great doubt. I don't want to get into a big intellectual discussion on Christmas Day, so I will save that for a later day. But I sure was happy to hear this read at mass this morning.
And happy to see standing-room-only at church. It used to annoy me. All the inconvenience of all those cars in the parking lot, all those extra people in the pews. All of the crying babies, and chit chatting people. However, I now thank God that that many people got dressed up on Christmas morning and headed out to mass.
In our secular world, the grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and malls still close on this one day of the year. It gives me hope.
Merry Christmas to you all.
We didn't have that passage at my mass today. I think they used the midnight mass readings. But thank you so much for it. I was searching for all the passages that refer to Christ as the light. I had not realized there was one right there at the beginning of John.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed with today's turnout at mass. It seemed like an average Sunday. Perhaps there was a big turnout at the midnight mass and people didn't come to the morning mass.
Merry Christmas and peace be with you. I would love to shake your hand in a sign of the peace offering, one of my favorite parts of mass. Bless you and your readers either way.
Thanks Manny. I would love to shake your hand as well.
ReplyDeleteWe sang Once in Royal David's City at Mass. It made me cry as I realised God sees us as children and that's how I truly feel inside, most of the time. I don't mean acting childishly, although I'm an expert at that but just the safe secure sense of God as parent and protector.
ReplyDeleteHappy St Stephen's day btw and keep up the relaxation!!