John 1:1-18
In the beginning there was Christ, with God. He has always been
alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists
that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light
to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the
darkness can never extinguish it. God sent John the Baptist as a witness to the
fact that Jesus Christ is the true Light. John himself was not the Light; he
was only a witness to identify it. Later on, the one who is the true Light
arrived to shine on everyone coming into the world. But although he made the
world, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and
among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome
and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become
children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those
who believe this are reborn!—not a physical rebirth resulting from human
passion or plan—but from the will of God. And Christ became a human being and
lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth. And
some of us have seen his glory—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly
Father!
Food for thought
In both the reading from Hebrews (1:1-6) and John (1:1-18) we find two statements that help us to understand and celebrate Christmas. The letter to the Hebrews says, “Long ago God spoke in many different ways to our fathers through the prophets, in visions, dreams, and even face to face, telling them little by little about his plans. But now in these days he has spoken to us through his Son to whom he has given everything and through whom he made the world and everything there is.” And from the Gospel we read: “In the beginning there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make.”
From these two statements we learn that Jesus was there in the beginning; and that everything was through him and by him; and that at Christmas, Jesus was came and dwelt among us. This means that Christmas is about the Second Beginning; it is about God beginning again what he did in the First Beginning when He created the world and everything there in. In the First Beginning, God made everything through his Son, the Word, Jesus Christ “through whom he made the world and everything there is.” It means that at the first Christmas, God sent us Jesus in order to make again the world and everything there is.
If God can begin again, you and I can, through Jesus, also begin again; if God can be born again, we too can be begin life all over again; through Jesus and with Jesus we can make again our world and everything there in. Paraphrasing the words of Joyce Meyer, I can say: if I were bold enough to give a one-sentence Christmas message right now — if I had only a few seconds to share with you one idea that might change your life at this Christmas — here’s what I would say: Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you’ve been through, it’s never too late to begin again. I believe this one sentence is more than a speech or a sermon; it is the core message of Christmas. Regardless of your past failure or your present struggle, God offers you and me a new beginning at Christmas. This is what Jesus has come to do: to empower us begin again.
And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth. And some of us have seen his glory—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father!
At one time or another, all of us get lost in some way: a failed vocation, a failed marriage, a broken dream, a disappointing career, a financial setback, or a family struggle causes us to hang our heads low and wonder where things went wrong. The truth is: “If you’re not dead, then you’re not done!” With Jesus all of us can write a new chapter for our life, for our family, for our career and for our community.
Food for thought
In both the reading from Hebrews (1:1-6) and John (1:1-18) we find two statements that help us to understand and celebrate Christmas. The letter to the Hebrews says, “Long ago God spoke in many different ways to our fathers through the prophets, in visions, dreams, and even face to face, telling them little by little about his plans. But now in these days he has spoken to us through his Son to whom he has given everything and through whom he made the world and everything there is.” And from the Gospel we read: “In the beginning there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make.”
From these two statements we learn that Jesus was there in the beginning; and that everything was through him and by him; and that at Christmas, Jesus was came and dwelt among us. This means that Christmas is about the Second Beginning; it is about God beginning again what he did in the First Beginning when He created the world and everything there in. In the First Beginning, God made everything through his Son, the Word, Jesus Christ “through whom he made the world and everything there is.” It means that at the first Christmas, God sent us Jesus in order to make again the world and everything there is.
If God can begin again, you and I can, through Jesus, also begin again; if God can be born again, we too can be begin life all over again; through Jesus and with Jesus we can make again our world and everything there in. Paraphrasing the words of Joyce Meyer, I can say: if I were bold enough to give a one-sentence Christmas message right now — if I had only a few seconds to share with you one idea that might change your life at this Christmas — here’s what I would say: Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you’ve been through, it’s never too late to begin again. I believe this one sentence is more than a speech or a sermon; it is the core message of Christmas. Regardless of your past failure or your present struggle, God offers you and me a new beginning at Christmas. This is what Jesus has come to do: to empower us begin again.
And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth. And some of us have seen his glory—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father!
At one time or another, all of us get lost in some way: a failed vocation, a failed marriage, a broken dream, a disappointing career, a financial setback, or a family struggle causes us to hang our heads low and wonder where things went wrong. The truth is: “If you’re not dead, then you’re not done!” With Jesus all of us can write a new chapter for our life, for our family, for our career and for our community.
So,
why not claim this Christmas as a day of the new beginning! Make this Christmas
your new beginning; your Day One. Remember this: According to 2 Corinthians
5:17, “When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person
inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!”
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
With God, it is never too late. It’s never too late to dream. It’s never too late to pray. It’s never too late to believe. It’s never too late to love. It's never too late to forgive. And it’s never too late to begin again.
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
With God, it is never too late. It’s never too late to dream. It’s never too late to pray. It’s never too late to believe. It’s never too late to love. It's never too late to forgive. And it’s never too late to begin again.
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