Scripture Readings, December 31, 2024

1 John 2:18-21, Psalm 96:1-2, 11-13, John 1:1-18

The first thing that strikes me about John’s prologue is the cosmic feel to it. It’s big. Unlike Matthew and Luke, John is not talking about the highly specific historical Jewish connections to Jesus. It is an introduction that stresses the universal nature and divine origin of Jesus. The Word which becomes flesh is the source of creation, the light that is the life of all human beings and which stands undefeated against the darkness.

It seems significant to me that in describing the eternal origins of Jesus of Nazareth John feels it necessary to include a darkness that stands over against the light. Importantly the darkness does not overpower the light. But it is there. We see this opposing force in our first reading from the 2^nd letter of John. There he is talking about anti-Christs who have left the Christian community. He believes their appearance heralds the end of time and is encouraging the community to recognize that those who left were never really part of them. He wants the community to appreciate that they know the true Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. This truth never deceives us into going down a wrong path. The darkness doesn’t win here either.

This ultimate win over darkness doesn’t mean the road is clear cut. John’s prologue points out two awful ironies.

“The world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.”

We know for all the wonderful things Jesus did during his life and the great parties he went to along the way it ended badly. He was tortured and hung on a cross to die. Clearly there is a challenge to being part of the world, even if you are the Son of God.

The upside to this story is that light and truth win. So for us it’s a question of sticking with the good people who like John’s community of believers are willing to stick together and recognize the truth of God’s love and presence. We know not everyone will see it this way. However, as John says, “to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.” Becoming children of God is a real gift. According to the Gospel, children of God are “not born of human stock, or human desire or human will but from God himself.” I think the way to understand this is that believing in Jesus is not automatic. We aren’t Christian like we’re Asian, or African American or White. We’re not Christian in the way we’re tall or introverted or a great singer. Coming to believe in Jesus as Son of God is a process that often begins when we’re children and we hear the Christmas story or accompany parents to Mass. We become believers because of other believers. Even Jesus needed the support of other people. In the beginning it’s John the Baptist who tells others about Jesus. So as adults we either see the idea of God present in our lives as something that offers meaning to life or we reject it. Nobody forces this on any of us. It’s our choice. It’s a gift from God himself because what comes from God is our human freedom. To be children of God is to have the freedom to take full advantage of our talents and gifts, to create a world of peace and justice. The creation that began before time with God’s Word and light isn’t finished. As children of God, it’s just our turn.