Dec.31, 7th day in Octave of Christmas

Scripture: I John 2: 18-21. Psalm 96:1-2.11-12.13. John 1:1-18: We end this chronological year 2009 with a beginning! John's prologue is a revelatory prelude or beginning to the most profound of the four Gospels. It starts in eternity and leads to the historical event of the Incarnation expressed in John 1:14. But first, the beginning is important for it leads us to the Father and Creator and helps us to ponder the mystery of the Trinity and then the mystery of our salvation history begun by the birth of Jesus in time. John contemplates the mystery with this profound beginning: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God; and the Word was God!" As we continue our reading we come to the most gratuitious and graced revelation in our history; it is the climax of the Prologue: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory--glory as of the only-begotten of the Father--ful of grace and truth." John is speaking of the birth of Christ in time or the mystery of the Incarnation is theological words. Then in the second part of the verse we are led back to the beginning--the Word of God in the mystery of the Triune Godhead (the Trinity). Here we see that the same Word who was with God from the beginning is now revealed in the flesh and lives among us. Christmas is more theologically presented to us by John than by the other Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke. It takes us to the level of contemplation and pondering in an unfathomable mystery that begins salvation for all humankind. John gives us the revelation of Christmas at its highest level. In a sense, all endings like that of this year, lead to a beginning, a new beginning that often has a transition period; sometimes a short transition, at other times a long one that we are to live through till we reach the new beginning. At this time of year, we do best to enter into the spirit of the Fourth Gospel when it comes to the mystery of the Incarnation seen in the perspective of its eternal source--God. Liturgical texts and celebrations help us immensely to enter into the Incarnation on this last day leading to the New Year 2010. Tomorrow we will be graced with the beginning of a New Year that we look forward to as being better and more hopeful. It can be this at the contemplative, liturgical, and prayer level that we all have access to. Mary the Mother of Jesus will be the beginning feast of the New Year and it is also accompanied by the theme of peace. She showed us how the Incarnation is possible and necessary at the human level. What more profound way than the birth of a child the greatest of all mysteries of life. Jesus the Word chooses this woman whom we name as Mother of God, God-bearer, Mater Dei, and Theotokos. Theology and Scripture intermingle in trying to sound the depths of this mystery. We can enter into it simply by our prayer and our pondering over what John has given us as revelation on this last day of the year. Let us do so with openness, thanksgiving, and great hopefulness. Amen,