Word Became Flesh

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 into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. John 1:1-18

It is hard for some of us to think about this passage from John, which is often read during the Christmas season. We are just days away from lent! There is so much to change and prepare, and Christmas seems so long ago. I am grateful for the reminder of the vulnerable, precious, very human child of Jesus, who came into this world just as we did, and he dwelt among us and dwells with us still. We often get so very lenten, penitent and all that, that we forget to revel in the goodness of a wondrous creator who walked among us, lived in a harsh and violent world, as we do, and never failed to understand our sorrow or our agonies.

Creator, you breathed life into the world

you spoke and sent your son to live here

he walked the dusty roads and sat at table

one of the people, part of the family,

We often want our God far away from us

believing that we are masters of life

yet we know all too well how fragile life is

and feel the weight of all our burdens.

Help us today the seek him who dwelt with us

let us draw close and lean in to his loving arms

for we are vulnerable, and often broken

and love is here among drawing us closer. Amen.