Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: December 25, 2024

Date: Nativity of the Lord

Scripture Text: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.

He came for testimony, to testify to the light,

so that all might believe through him.

He was not the light,

but came to testify to the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,

and 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.

But to those who did accept him

he gave power to become children of God,

to those who believe in his name,

who were born not by natural generation

nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision

but of God.

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father’s only Son,

full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,

“This was he of whom I said,

‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me

because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received,

grace in place of grace,

because while the law was given through Moses,

grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God.

The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,

has revealed him.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel for today is the beginning of the Gospel of John and introduces us to the Son of God, Logos, Jesus Christ.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Have I opened myself fully to Jesus Christ, Son of God, “the true light”?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, this day we celebrate both the gift of your only-begotten Son to humanity as our brother and as our savior. We pause to lift our minds and hearts in praise and thanksgiving. And we seek to contemplate your gift which we did not earn but without which we can not live. Send your Spirit to illuminate our minds and to make room in our hearts. Grant that we may recognize You in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and that we may welcome Him into our homes, our lives, our minds, our hearts, our souls. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.