Jesus enters the world as a child. Innocent, homeless, vulnerable, gulping for air. He depends on us – and our whole lives depend on him.
Reading
John 1.1-14
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.
Reflection
An artist once told me that when she first held her baby she was filled with incredible awe. Awe. Wonder. Astonishment. Holy fear.
“All my life,” she said, “I have been learning to do things, to read, to write, to study at college to be an artist. Now suddenly here I am, holding a vulnerable life – a child who is totally dependent on me … and I realise no one has taught me to do this. And I feel this overwhelming protective love that I know instinctively I would give my life for.”
“My friends ask me if I will still have time to paint. But here I am holding the greatest work of living art in my own hands. And for the first time I know in my heart what unconditional love means.”
I wonder…
If you have ever experienced unconditional love? Where in your life you might see God’s glory? How the Word becoming flesh might change you?
Lord Jesus Christ, teach me to love as you love, unconditionally. Let me hold you, Jesus, as you also hold me. Let your Word become flesh in me. And help me to see your presence in all things. Amen.
