Second Sunday of Christmas, 2nd January, 2022

Gospel: John  1-1-18  

In the beginning was the Word:
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower

The Word was the true light
that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him,
and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him
who was born not out of human stock
or urge of the flesh
or will of man
but of God himself.
The Word was made flesh, he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his
as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.

The Gospel of the Lord    

Donal Neary SJ
Gospel Reflections
www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

Glory and joy

Would you expect to find glory in the crib? It is there in human and the divine love. Angels sing of glory to God ... this is the biggest thing that ever happened the world. God among us, the word made flesh! Love has come among us like never before.

As the gospel of John goes on there is another sense of that glory. Glory means not just angels and bright light - it is the love of God and then our love.

Jesus comes with the love of God. He makes a difference, call­ing us to be a community of people who find, through their faith and humanity, the motivation to care for each other always, in good times and bad.

That's all part of the message of Christmas. God our creator passionately wants a world where people are cherished and hu­man rights are respected, within a way of life where the rights of all, especially the poor, are met. This child is for the world, and his life and ministry will bring compassion to us and danger to him.

Christmas is about Jesus being for us, about the church being for the world of today. It is an annual reminder that our call is to allow Jesus into our hearts in love, and to allow him out in our love of those near to us, and of the wider world.

Imagine the Christmas scene, and notice that behind the manger there is a cross. This is the child who will save us.

With the angels and the shepherds, with Mary and Joseph, we welcome you, Lord Jesus.