A Reflection on John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word. John opens his Gospel not with
a birth announcement or a genealogy, but with a statement that echoes the very
first words of Genesis. Before anything was created, before time itself
existed, the Word already was. This Word isn't merely speech or sound, it's the
eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, existing in perfect communion with the
Father. John tells us something remarkable: "The Word was with God, and
the Word was God." This isn't a play with words, but a revelation of the mystery
at the heart of our faith. Jesus is fully God while being distinct from the
Father, united in the Holy Trinity. Through this Word, everything came into
existence. The stars above us, the ground beneath our feet, the very breath in
our lungs, all of it came into being through him. Nothing exists that he did
not make. When we look at creation, we're seeing the fingerprints of the Word
made visible.
Then comes the moment that defines all of human history: "And the Word
became flesh and made his dwelling among us." The God who spoke creation
into being took on human flesh and blood. He didn't merely appear to be human
or take on the disguise of humanity; he truly became one of us. The infinite
God experienced what it means to be finite. The eternal One entered time. The
Creator became part of his own creation. This is the stunning truth of the
Incarnation that we celebrate. God didn't remain distant or aloof but pitched
his tent right in our midst, sharing our joys and sorrows, our hunger and
thirst, our laughter and tears. In Jesus, heaven and earth were united in a way
never before possible.
Here's where a beautiful insight deepens our understanding: right reflection on
God comes before right affection for God. We cannot truly love what we do not
truly know. This is why John's Gospel begins with theology before biography,
with the identity of Christ before his ministry. Our exultation in Jesus must
be built on the solid foundation of who he actually is. Many in Jesus' time
missed him entirely because they were looking for someone else, a political
messiah, a military leader, a mere prophet. They couldn't worship him rightly
because they didn't understand him rightly. The same danger exists for us. If
we reduce Jesus to simply a good teacher or a moral example, we miss the glory
John wants us to see that we have beheld "his glory, the glory as of the
Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." Our joy in Jesus Christ grows
as our knowledge of Jesus grows. Learning truth leads us to loving truth.
Yet even as the true Light came into the world, darkness did not overcome it, but
many did not recognize it. "He came to what was his own, but his own
people did not accept him." How is it possible to miss God when he's
standing right in front of you? It happens when we prefer our own ideas about
who God should be over who he truly is. It happens when we want God to fit our
expectations rather than surrendering to his reality. But here's the glorious
promise that changes everything: "To those who did accept him, he gave
power to become children of God." This isn't just a metaphor or a pleasant
sentiment. Through the sacraments, through grace, we truly become adopted sons
and daughters of the Father. We're brought into the very life of the Trinity.
And from Jesus’ fullness, we receive "grace upon grace", not a single
measure of grace, but wave after wave, an endless ocean of divine love pouring
into our lives. This grace isn't earned or deserved; it flows freely from the
heart of God made flesh.
Jesus himself declared, "No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone
to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." This is the astounding privilege
we have; Jesus reveals the Father to us. Every action of Jesus, every word he
spoke, every person he touched, reveals the Father's love. When Jesus healed the
sick, we saw God's compassion. When Jesus ate with sinners, we saw God's mercy.
When Jesus laid down his life, we saw the depths of God's love. Today’s Gospel
calls us to move beyond mere information about Jesus to a genuine life-changing
transformation through Jesus. It invites us not just to study Jesus Christ but to encounter Jesus, to receive Jesus, to invite Jesus to dwell in us as fully
as Jesus was among the first disciples.
As we ponder this profound mystery, let's ask ourselves:
·
Do
I approach knowing Jesus as the foundation for loving Jesus, or do I try to
love him without truly seeking to understand who he is?
·
When
I hear that the Word became flesh, does it fill me with wonder that God would
so humble Himself for me?
·
In
what ways do I sometimes want Jesus to match my expectations rather than
allowing him to reveal who he truly is?
·
How
am I receiving the grace upon grace that flows from his infinite fullness? Am I
aware of it, grateful for it, responding to it?
·
And
finally, when others look at my life, do they see someone who has beheld the
glory of Jesus Christ and been changed by it, or does my life reflect a deeper
connection and commitment to this passing world? Do my priorities, my
conversations, my purchases, my lifestyle, and my use of time and resources reveal someone transformed by the
Word made flesh, or do they betray a disconnect between the faith I profess publicly and
the life I actually live? Pretty deep, hey, that's the idea.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us; the question is
whether we allow him to dwell so fully in us that others can see his light
shining through our lives. Keep Jesus as the Center of your life, the North
Star, to guide you and lead you, through the good, the bad, and the ugly on
your way home to unite with Him in eternity. We have been blessed with this
life to prepare for eternity. May God bless all of you.
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
