December 7th

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

These words from the beginning of the book of John describe, in the utmost detail, the mission of John the Baptist. He was indeed a man sent by God to foretell the coming of the true Light into the world: Jesus Christ, who became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of John by bringing Heaven to earth and revealing the truth to those who dwelt in darkness, for the darkness truly could not comprehend such a Light.

God loves us so much that He gave us His own - His only - begotten Son to bring us and be that true Light. He knew that we lived in the darkness of the world and that such a Light was much too complex for us to understand. He sent John to prophesy of this and to try and help us even begin to understand such a concept in our finite minds. For we are all His children, and He looked beyond our fault and saw our need. May we keep this Light foremost in our daily lives through this Advent season and beyond.

Let us pray: “Heavenly Father, we praise You and give You thanks for loving us enough to send Your Son into the world. Help us to embrace and understand that You made the sun, the moon, and the stars to guide us by day and by night, and to always look to the heavens and follow that one true Light that overcomes our darkest days. We thank You Lord, and in Your matchless name we pray. Amen.”