Today’s Readings:
John 1:1-14 (NASB)
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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
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 saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Luke 1:34-37 (NASB)
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
36 "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."
AN ADVENT MEDITATION:
I wonder if Mary understood what the Angel Gabriel meant when he said to her: “the power of the most high will overshadow you…”? Mary’s question was reasonable. Yet, the answer isn’t based on human reason. The answer is not grounded in creation, but in the creator. The Creator supersedes the creation; that is, He is not bound by created things and does not have to obey the laws of creation.
For Mary, the words that Elisabeth is also pregnant must have been reassuring words that made her feel more at ease with the Angel’s words. After all, Elisabeth was not young – but barren. Now, Mary realizes that neither barrenness, nor her virginity were problems for the Creator God for whom nothing is impossible. “No baby has ever been conceived apart from a man and woman” is what Mary is saying. The angel says, “This is no mere baby, this baby’s father is God the Father.” Here is the mystery of the Incarnation – the baby boy, man, Jesus is both Human and Divine at the same time. Impossible for minds of mere human reason, but not for those who believe in the Creator God… “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us, full of grace and truth”. To that all I can say is “WOW”.
In the 5th Century, a saint of the church (Aurelius Prudentius) reflecting on the incarnation penned the words below. The hymn was retranslated and modernized in the 19th century (John Neale & Henry Baker). “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” still beautifully states the incarnational mystery.
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is alpha and omega,
He the source the ending He,
Of the things that are,
That have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
O, that birth forever blessed, when the virgin,
Full of grace,
By the Holy Spirit,
Bear the Savior of our race,
And the babe,
The world’s redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore,
O ye heights of heaven,
Adore Him; Angel Hosts,
His praises sing;
Powers, Dominions,
Bow before him and extol our God and King,
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and Evermore.
Christ, to thee with God the Father and,
O Holy Ghost, to thee Hymn
And Chant and High Thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, Glory, and Dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and Evermore. Amen
A Prayer:
Father, because I cannot comprehend the mystery of the Incarnation does not mean I disbelieve. Lord I believe the incomprehensible, the inconceivable, the wonder of you as creator God. Lord I believe that you are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit…without confusion, co-equal and co-eternal. Lord, I long to enter more deeply into the mystery of your Godliness personally in my own spirit and soul. Forever I am committed to your great love that has brought grace and truth in perfect balance to all that I am. Amen
John 1:1-14 (NASB)
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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
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 saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Luke 1:34-37 (NASB)
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
36 "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."
AN ADVENT MEDITATION:
I wonder if Mary understood what the Angel Gabriel meant when he said to her: “the power of the most high will overshadow you…”? Mary’s question was reasonable. Yet, the answer isn’t based on human reason. The answer is not grounded in creation, but in the creator. The Creator supersedes the creation; that is, He is not bound by created things and does not have to obey the laws of creation.
For Mary, the words that Elisabeth is also pregnant must have been reassuring words that made her feel more at ease with the Angel’s words. After all, Elisabeth was not young – but barren. Now, Mary realizes that neither barrenness, nor her virginity were problems for the Creator God for whom nothing is impossible. “No baby has ever been conceived apart from a man and woman” is what Mary is saying. The angel says, “This is no mere baby, this baby’s father is God the Father.” Here is the mystery of the Incarnation – the baby boy, man, Jesus is both Human and Divine at the same time. Impossible for minds of mere human reason, but not for those who believe in the Creator God… “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us, full of grace and truth”. To that all I can say is “WOW”.
In the 5th Century, a saint of the church (Aurelius Prudentius) reflecting on the incarnation penned the words below. The hymn was retranslated and modernized in the 19th century (John Neale & Henry Baker). “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” still beautifully states the incarnational mystery.
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is alpha and omega,
He the source the ending He,
Of the things that are,
That have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
O, that birth forever blessed, when the virgin,
Full of grace,
By the Holy Spirit,
Bear the Savior of our race,
And the babe,
The world’s redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore,
O ye heights of heaven,
Adore Him; Angel Hosts,
His praises sing;
Powers, Dominions,
Bow before him and extol our God and King,
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and Evermore.
Christ, to thee with God the Father and,
O Holy Ghost, to thee Hymn
And Chant and High Thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, Glory, and Dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and Evermore. Amen
A Prayer:
Father, because I cannot comprehend the mystery of the Incarnation does not mean I disbelieve. Lord I believe the incomprehensible, the inconceivable, the wonder of you as creator God. Lord I believe that you are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit…without confusion, co-equal and co-eternal. Lord, I long to enter more deeply into the mystery of your Godliness personally in my own spirit and soul. Forever I am committed to your great love that has brought grace and truth in perfect balance to all that I am. Amen
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