The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the events of our lives in which we experienced grace and truth.
Grace and Truth
The reading from the First Letter of John is a warning against Antichrists.
* [2:20] The anointing that comes from the holy one: this anointing is in the Old Testament sense of receiving the Spirit of God. The holy one probably refers to Christ. True knowledge is the gift of the Spirit (cf. Is 11:2), and the function of the Spirit is to lead Christians to the truth (Jn 14:17, 26; 16:13).1
Psalm 96 praises God Who comes in Judgement.
* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33.2
The Prologue to the Gospel of John declares the Word Became Flesh.
* [1:14] Flesh: the whole person, used probably against docetic tendencies (cf. 1 Jn 4:2; 2 Jn 7). Made his dwelling: literally, “pitched his tent/tabernacle.” Cf. the tabernacle or tent of meeting that was the place of God’s presence among his people (Ex 25:8–9). The incarnate Word is the new mode of God’s presence among his people. The Greek verb has the same consonants as the Aramaic word for God’s presence (Shekinah). Glory: God’s visible manifestation of majesty in power, which once filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:34) and the temple (1 Kgs 8:10–11, 27), is now centered in Jesus. Only Son: Greek, monogenēs, but see note on Jn 1:18. Grace and truth: these words may represent two Old Testament terms describing Yahweh in covenant relationship with Israel (cf. Ex 34:6), thus God’s “love” and “fidelity.” The Word shares Yahweh’s covenant qualities.3
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that God’s creation of each of us has been and still is assisted by persons who have let us know who we really are. We probably have had persons who also deformed or damaged our images of our real selves. Jesus as Light, came to dwell among us and in doing so, in John’s Gospel as well as in our lives, has stayed to gently, but insistently reveal who each of us is and who we all are together. He came as Light to, both shine through creation and radiate His Light through us.
Reflecting then on this past year, what have we seen, what has been seen through us? There has been darkness and perhaps the darkness has increased through our own participation in the virus of self-negativity and subsequently, the contagion of criticism. We can consider how the Light has overcome that dark-spirited way of not-seeing. The “grace-upon-grace” in our lives offers us to others and to life’s situations as real blessings, imagine that! No! not for imagining, but end-of-the year and beginning-of-the-year reflection and acceptance. Perhaps we can set aside the umbrella of disappointment and gloom which may have darkened our being in His Light and being His Light. As G. M. Hopkins writes, “Keeps grace that keeps all his goings graces.” We, as with John, are not the Light, but we testify to the Light by which we know and accept who He created us to be, “Children of God, Imagine that! No! Pray with and enjoy who His Light has created us to be and see! Have a Light-full New Year! 4
Don Schwager quotes “The first-fruits of the Gospels,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"I think that John's Gospel, which you have enjoined us to examine to the best of our ability, is the first-fruits of the Gospels. It speaks of him whose descent is traced and begins from him who is without a genealogy... The greater and more perfect expressions concerning Jesus are reserved for the one who leaned on Jesus' breast. For none of the other Gospels manifested his divinity as fully as John when he presented him saying, 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:42), 'I am the way and the truth and the life' (John 14:6), 'I am the resurrection' (John 11:25), 'I am the door' (John 10:9), 'I am the good shepherd' (John 10:11)... We might dare say then that the Gospels are the first-fruits of all Scripture but that the first-fruits of the Gospels is that according to John whose meaning no one can understand who has not leaned on Jesus' breast or received Mary from Jesus to be his mother also." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1.21-23)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 1:1-18 comments that today’s Gospel reading gives us a different perspective as we reflect on the past year. John’s hope-filled statement that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). John insists that even in our darkest times, God will continue to shine his light and his goodness on us. He is the one constant we can always rely on in all the ups and downs of life.
This upcoming year will surely have its share of joys and trials. None of us can tell what’s waiting for us. But if you go into the year with trust in God’s constancy, you’ll be a lot more confident that your heavenly Father will carry you as often as you need him to. Whether you face the worst of times, the best of times, or a combination of both, know that you will never have to face it alone. Jesus, the light of the world, will be with you. “Thank you, Lord, that your light continues to shine. Jesus, deepen my trust in you in the coming year.”6
Friar Jude Winkler teaches that the AntiChrist in the Letter of John was Gnostic docetism that denied Jesus humanity because of a belief in the evil of the material world. John’s Prologue connects Christ to Wisdom (Sophia) personified and to the Logos in the work of Philo. Friar Jude reminds us of the grace and truth of God expressed in Yahweh as hesed and emet.
Brian McLaren illustrates how one of the Bible’s most challenging books—Revelation—can be a source of wisdom and hope for us today. Rather than giving its original readers and hearers a coded blueprint of the future, Revelation gave them visionary insight into their present situation. It told them that the story of God’s work in history has never been about escaping Earth and going up to heaven. It has always been about God descending to dwell among us. . . . God wasn’t a distant, terrifying monster waiting for vengeance at the end of the universe. God was descending among us here and now, making the tree of true aliveness available for all. [1]
What was true for Revelation’s original audience is true for us today. Whatever madman is in power, whatever chaos is breaking out, whatever danger threatens, the river of life is flowing now. The Tree of Life is bearing fruit now. True aliveness is available now. That’s why Revelation ends with the sound of a single word echoing through the universe. That word is not Wait! Nor is it Not Yet! or Someday! It is a word of invitation, welcome, reception, hospitality, and possibility. It is a word not of ending, but of new beginning. That one word is Come! The Spirit says it to us. We echo it back. Together with the Spirit, we say it to everyone who is willing. Come! [3]7
The journey to fullness of life is marked by experiences of grace and truth revealed by the Spirit.
References
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