Grace and Truth

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

The Gospel of John begins with this wonderful passage which is poetic and memorable. Jesus as the word from the beginning of creation. Yet we often forget that grace and truth are brought by Jesus. The law came through Moses. We all know how to behave, yet it is in Christ that we know grace and truth, forgiveness and reconciliation. We find new life, not because we follow a law but because we were loved from the beginning of creation. And indeed, all of creation was loved from the very beginning. All life can be broken and yet all of our lives are precious and redeemed and redeemable through the grace and truth from the word, Jesus. May we who have received grace and truth, live lives worthy of he who was from the beginning.

Gracious Creator, your Word was from the beginning

and became flesh and lived among us human beings

forgiving, loving, healing and bestowing grace

to all of us who would seek your love in our lives.

We focus on law instead of your grace and truth

we focus on status and gain instead of on love

we judge others harshly yet plead for ourselves

and have not sought your forgiveness at all.

May we live as your grace and truth today

living honestly and humbly with our neighbors

sharing the blessings and gifts you have given

and seeking your way of love for everyone of us. Amen.