1 In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
2 The Word was with God in the beginning.
3 Everything came into being through the Word,
and without the Word
nothing came into being.
What came into being
4 through the Word was life,[a]
and the life was the light for all people.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
Reflection
One year, when my twin sons were young, we put relighting candles on their birthday cakes. At first it looked like all the candles were blown out, but suddenly they began to reignite, one by one, until the cake was fully lit again. No matter how hard they worked to extinguish them, the flames couldn’t be put out, and the candles would relight over
and over again.
When we read this part of the beautiful and poetic prologue of John, we’re reminded by the first words, echoing Genesis that, “In the beginning” all was darkness. Yet it was through the Word, existing with God, that everything, all life, came into being. And from the Word, Jesus, came light for all people, shining in the darkness. And the darkness will never extinguish the light of Christ.
John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare us and to point the way to the Savior. John was a witness to the light,
Jesus our Savior. John’s mission was to testify to the people that Jesus was the light of the world bringing salvation. John was a a light bearer who pointed to Jesus, telling everyone “Look! The Lamb of God.”
Thousands of years later John’s testimony to Jesus as the Savior of the world still rings true. John’s voice has not been
extinguished. The true light, Jesus the Christ, continues to shine out in the world. We the disciples of Jesus are witnesses to the love and grace of God embodied in Jesus who is the light of the world, bringing life and light into the hearts of all who believe in him.
That’s our mission-we are light bearers. We carry the light of Christ within us, out into the world. We prepare for the coming of Jesus and point the way. As the followers of Jesus, we share the good news of Jesus and the love of God with others. We are like those relighting birthday candles that can’t be extinguished, because even during tough times, while we may sputter and go out, we will catch the spark again, because we’re filled with God’s Spirit so we’ll always
burst back into flame. That holy flame within us allows us to share the light of Christ with others. The light of Christ that dispels the darkness in the world, one life at a time, until the whole world is alight with the light of God’s love shining out through us.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering & Prayer
During the holiday everywhere you go is decorated with lights. Let the lights of the season, and the candle you will hold on Christmas Eve, that will be lit from the Christ candle, remind you, that you are a light bearer. Today, and everyday, that is your mission as disciples of Christ, to bring
the light and love of God into the lives of all those experiencing darkness. Today, look for who needs to experience the light and love of Christ. Amen.
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, in a world of darkness, help us to bring the light and love of Christ to all we meet. Amen.
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