Dec 15 - The Light that Dwells Among Us

The Light that Dwells Among Us

Friday, December 15, 2023

by Alexandra Graham

The true light, which illuminates every man, was coming into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him.  He went to his own, and his own did not accept him.  Yet whoever did accept him, those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the sons of God.  These are born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh, and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, glory like that of an only-begotten son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:9-14 (Catholic Bible App)

In the opening verses of the Gospel of John, we encounter a profound truth—a light that enlightens everyone is entering the world. This light is none other than Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. On its face, these short verses just look like quick recap of Jesus’ thirty-three years Earthside. But really, even 2000 years later, we really aren’t all that different than the people then.

Verse 9 reminds us this light is universal, illuminating the lives of all people. It shines forth, bringing enlightenment, understanding, and grace to a world in need. Yet, it's poignant to note that despite being in the world, the Creator was often not recognized by His creation. How often do we not notice God in our lives? I have a whole collection of bracelets from volunteering at VBS for several years that say “Watch for God” hanging from my headboard in the guest bedroom. I have specific places where I watch for God, and I’m amused that over the years, I’ve accidently inculcated my practice in other people I know to ask for holes in traffic and for a good parking spot at the airport.

 

Verses 10-11 reveal a paradox—the world came to be through Him, yet many remained unaware of His presence. Even among His own people, there was a lack of acceptance. It serves as a reminder that divine truths can be obscured by worldly perceptions, and the extraordinary can be overlooked in the ordinary. Lest you think that my God sightings are only about getting what I want when I want it, really the definition of a God sighting for me is seeing the hand of God in the everyday. It’s the nudge to go to the library at lunch instead of after work and discovering the latest book in a series I’m reading. It’s thinking about someone and then the radio plays that person’s favorite song. Maybe that’s coincidence…but then maybe coincidence is just another word for God.

The narrative takes a turn towards hope in Verses 12-13. Despite the rejection by the people of Jesus’ time, there is an invitation extended to those who accept Him. Through faith, we are granted the extraordinary privilege of becoming children of God. This relationship is not a result of natural descent, human choice, or a mere decision; it is a divine birthright, a rebirth granted by God Himself. I have a whole long line of movies, TV shows and songs that I love because they’re about blind faith: “Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel, Field of Dreams, and Joan of Arcadia are just a few. I think that God is bigger than anything we can understand while our souls are housed in human bodies. God’s light is within all of us; we are all part of something larger. We choose to focus on our differences instead of what we share in common, but in talking to people from other faiths, what always strikes me is their visceral experience with God often sounds like mine: such overwhelming joy that I can’t stop crying, experiencing something so profoundly beautiful that my teeth ache, that frustration that if I could just get out of this confining body, I could truly join the whole. It makes me appreciate so much the idea that “What you do to one of my children, you do to me” because it means when we damage each other (especially in the name of religion), we are actually damaging God, and ourselves, too.

Verse 14 encapsulates the mystery and beauty of the Incarnation. The Word, the very essence of God, becomes flesh and dwells among us. The Creator enters into His creation, not in a distant or indifferent manner, but intimately and personally. The glory of the Son is revealed, and in Him, we encounter the perfect fusion of grace and truth. Sometimes I wonder if Jesus was equally annoyed with the limits of his body, and I wonder if in the undocumented years between twelve and thirty if he found ways, like most teenagers, to slip the collar and find freedom. I wonder about teenage Jesus. Like, his pre-frontal cortex wasn’t fully developed yet: Did he take up dares from his friends to jump off crazy high cliffs into the river? Did he fall in love and have his heartbroken? He visited us Earthside to experience life the way humans do—did he get the opportunity to feel all the emotions, including jealousy and avarice?As we reflect on these verses, may we be awakened to the universal light that shines in our lives, dispelling darkness and offering the transformative gift of divine filiation. Let us recognize and accept the Word made flesh, embracing the grace and truth that He brings. When we recognize that God isn’t just outside of us, that he is part of us, that he is part of our everyday lives if we just bother to notice, that when we follow that quiet voice to move to action, we become witnesses to His glory, and through faith, we are welcomed into the family of God.

O Lord, incline your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our hearts by the light of your visitation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  Author Unknown