The Second Sunday after Christmas – 2nd January 2022
Lectionary readings: Sir. 24:1-2.8-12; Ps.147:12-15. 19-20; Eph. 1:3-6. 15-18; Jn.1:1-18
Theme:Â The Word of the Lord became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory.
In the past, I have come to appreciate the meaning of Biblical Revelations as the unveiling of something unseen and unknown for the sole purpose of understanding. This is my gut feeling looking and reading John 1:1-18: “An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen” (Easton’s Bible). God has spoken in the past to our ancestors through the prophets, in many different ways, (Hebrews1:1-2) although never completely, but in our times he has spoken definitely to us through his Son. This is the Christian faith that we profess.
Each of the gospels begins with an account of Jesus’ origins. We know Mark, the first gospel to be written, introduces Jesus as an adult with no infancy narrative, fulfilling the arrival of God’s salvation as interpreted from the prophet Isaiah. Matthew and Luke’s narratives have the conception and birth of Jesus, foretold by the prophets and for the deliverance of humanity. Comparatively, John’s gospel is very different. “This has been recorded that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God” (Jn. 20:31).
The opening verse of our gospel is “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). How should we understand this line of thinking? I wonder how and from what moment Jesus became Son of God and to what extent was he identified with God. Again, the uniqueness of John’s gospel compared to the synoptic gospels sets out to assert that Jesus’ existence was forever in God.
In the beginning was the Word. When was the beginning? The real beginning is not the beginning of the universe. The real beginning is beyond time. “Before the mountains were born, before the earth or the world came to birth, you were God from eternity to eternity” (Psalm 90:2). Eternity, with the quality or state of being eternal, is seemingly endless or immeasurable time, an eternity of delays. For Christians, this is our faith, this is what we believe and profess: the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
From Ephesians 1:1-3, 15-18, a benediction, a blessing is given to God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul went on to say that for those who share the Christian faith, grace and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Lord are given. From eternity he destined us in love to be his adopted sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. In beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
For Reflection and Discussion: 1. What is my understanding and appreciation of the Word (Lord) made flesh (Jesus)? 2. How do the Synoptic Gospels, Mark, Matthew, and Luke, and the gospel of John, influence my life and faith journey?
Bibliography:  Easton’s Biblical Dictionary – Revelation. (Website); Christian Community Bible (Philippines: 2005).
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Aliki A Langi, Sydney, Bat Kol alum 2005, 2018
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