Scripture Notes: In the beginning… (John 1)

“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 were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).

The Word is Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God and Man. He, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, created the world. But darkness fell when human beings sinned. So the Word came among us out of a love we cannot even imagine, for He longed to heal the separation between the divine and the human. He brought life. He brought light, a light so strong and so pure that the darkness cannot overcome it. He came to save us and restore us to intimacy with God.

This is the truth of our faith, the very heart of what we believe. Yet often we take it for granted. We fail to approach it with wonder and love. We fail to let it change our minds and hearts and lives. We fail to appreciate exactly what Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has done for us.

So today and throughout the week, let us meditate on these words that the Holy Spirit inspired St. John to write and respond with awe and reverence, gratitude and love.