Dec 30, 2022
(1Jn.2:18-21; Ps.96:1-2,11-13; Jn.1:1-18)
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
And we must dwell with Him, remaining in His light, walking in His way. “Through Him all things came into being,” and we who have come into being by Him, “who believe in His name,” must “become children of God.”
In our first reading, John warns against the antichrists who come in this “final hour” to lead astray all those not founded in truth. Elsewhere he warns against anyone who does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God, as the Christ come among us. Certainly there are more than a few antichrists today, looking to distract believers from “the Holy One.” But as John says, “All knowledge is yours”: if we believe in Jesus, we have the truth written within us. Yet we must beware of faltering, for “no lie has anything in common with the truth.” Remain in His Church.
Our psalm of David encourages us to “exult before the Lord,” to “sing to the Lord; bless His name.” And well we should this holy day to know of the Christ that has come “to rule the world with justice.” The Word has become flesh and left His flesh and His Spirit with the Church He has founded on the apostles – great is the joy of those who find their home there.
And in our gospel we hear John’s beautiful and clear explication of the divinity of Jesus, the Word ever in God’s presence from the beginning, the Word that is “God.” There are pseudo-religious that change the evangelist’s words to say that the Word was “a god”; such is the work of the antichrists spoken of by Paul. For only in the clear recognition of Jesus as “God the only Son,” only in the unequivocal proclamation of His divinity – that He is God – is salvation found. For this is Truth, Truth brings light, and the light has no discourse with the darkness of lies.
Come to Him who has come unto you, brothers and sisters. Seeing Him you see God and know God. And knowing God you “know the truth” and so exult in the joy of His presence in His Word, in His Sacraments, in His Church… in His love. Praised be the Lord and His dwelling among us.
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O LORD, you have revealed yourself to us
in the presence of your only Son –
let us live in the truth that He is God.
YHWH, thank you for the truth you have given us, the glory you have revealed through your only Son. Your Word has become flesh and so your very light shines now in our midst – may we embrace Him and His love.
Though surrounded by the darkness of lies, we find our way to your truth, O LORD, by your Son and the Holy Spirit with whom we are anointed through Him. Now we know the truth and are gifted with all knowledge therefore – let us exult in the gift of life you provide.
Whoever does not acknowledge your Son does not know you, Father, and does not have the Holy Spirit. Let us know well Him whom you have sent and bless His Name among ourselves. Praise and glory belong to Him alone for He alone reveals your glory. O let this light shine in the hearts of all men, of all who would rejoice in your presence.