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Keeping Watch: Day 23

MONDAY, DEC 25

John 1:1-18

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 to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but 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 to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.

 

 

Grace: I ask for the grace to know Jesus in a deeper way that I may abundantly love and follow him.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t hear you.” Noise: multiple TVs blaring, background music, cell phone ringing… all vying for attention. How do you focus, how do you prepare for the birth of the Christ child when we can hardly hear each other over the din of this world? In John it says, “In the beginning was the Word” (vs. 1). Word spoken and the world was made. Word with God and was God. How do you hear Word when we ourselves are filled with noise, surrounded by noise? You and I need a John the Baptist, a person to point the way, to testify the Word is light overcoming darkness and bringing us life.

Several people have served in this role of the Baptist for me, speaking of the Word and pointing to His light in this world. Sylvia was one. She came into my life at a time of chaos and noise. I could barely hear anything above my own uncertainty and loss. Her joy broke through to me. When Sylvia walked into a room, you saw her smile first and next you heard her laugh. She brought a joyous energy to everything that she did. She was quick to tell anyone about the source of her joy: Jesus Christ, her Lord, her Savior, Light and Life. Now I look at Sylvia and understand these words of John, “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,” (vs. 12). Sylvia didn’t live a charmed life. She understood hardship and difficulty yet she was filled with unmistakable joy.

It is crazy, noisy and dark without the Christ child. Who pointed the way for you? Who stilled the noise long enough for you to hear the Word?

 

For Reflection and Prayer:

Who pointed the way for you?

Offer some words of thanksgiving for the life of this person. If you feel so moved write them a letter affirming their role in your Christian life.

 


The Contributor:

Sue Huntsman, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, has pastored different congregations across South Texas for 23 years. Praying the Spiritual Exercises opened me to the fullness of God’s presence and activity in my daily life.

Learn more about  Magis Ignatian Spirituality Programs.


Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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