Deus Verbum | The Word was God

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". - John 1:1

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This is a very deep and important passage. It's a privilege, an honour for me to write a short reflection on the One and Only Savior, Jesus Christ. Although I don't think it would ever be enough.

Jesus Christ is known as The Living Word (1 Pet 1:23). The Word who became flesh, who became a human, while He Himself was God. This is what John the Baptist wants to emphasize. The deity of Jesus Christ. In the beginning the Word already existed, together with God as He was God (v.1). This is in accordance with our belief in the Holy Trinity. The fact of the Triune God is seen here: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…'" (Gen 1:26).

He is the Creator of the world – God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him (v.3, NLT). He brought life and light into everything that was created (v.4). Sadly, when He came to the world, the world didn't recognize Him, even rejected Him (v.10-11).

Throughout history people debated over "Who Jesus Christ was". Some said He was a prophet, some said He was a good, perfect man. But John talked about His glory that people had seen, the glory of the One and Only Son of the Father (v.14). God can give birth to a child (spiritually) without any help from a woman or a human being because He is God. As the Only Begotten Son of the Father (v.18), Jesus has the same nature as God, God the Son. Like a child has the same nature as his parents.

The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (v.17). Men cannot be full of grace and truth because we are all fallible. Only God can. For those who receive Jesus Christ in your life, who believe in His name, He gives you the right to be the children of God (v.12). 

Let His light shine over your life, guide your life in the truth, and let's be grateful because the darkness will never extinguish this Light (v.5)!

Reflection on John 1: 1-18 by Desire Litaay

(Listen to podcast here)

Levate capita vestra (Lk. 21:28)

 

In our daily lives, we always touch, find, and use many signs. Apart from the signs of the natural world that exist and happen by the will of the Creator, many other signs are man-made. For example, signs of traffic on the streets, bells in schools, offices, places of worship, monasteries, and other public places. The purpose of these signs is for the common safety and good.

In today's Gospel, Jesus spoke of two important things: "sign and time." Jesus did not speak of his birth, two thousand years ago, as a weak infant. His birth became the greatest sign of love and gift from God the Father for the world. Jesus reminds us again of his second coming in this world that we do not know of his time. Jesus reminds us to be vigilant, attentive, and to repent of all our weaknesses and sins. Always gaze with the constantly burning lamps of our hearts and lest, the lamps of our hearts are extinguished because of our pride, envy, and lust. We must always be wise, lest we prepare a lamp but not prepare oil on it. “ But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” The sign is always revealed, but time is always a secret of God. Time goes on and where it goes we never know. Time is precious, so let’s not waste it.

By. Sr. Maria Venidora, SND.