"The Word became flesh."

                                

Monday musical meditations on God's good news

  


 An opening prayer:

    The only Son from heaven,
    foretold by ancient seers,
    by God the Father given,
    in human form appears.
    No sphere his light confining,
    no star so brightly shining
    as he, our Morning Star.

    O time of God appointed,
    O bright and holy morn!
    He comes, the King anointed,
    the Christ, the virgin-born,
    grim death to conquer for us,
    to open heav'n before us
    and bring us life again.

    O Lord, our hearts awaken
    to know and love you more,
    in faith to stand unshaken,
    in spirit to adore,
    that we, through this world moving,
    each glimpse of heaven proving,
    may reap its fullness there.

    O Father, here before you
    with God the Holy Ghost
    and Jesus, we adore you,
    O Pride of angel host.
    Before you mortals lowly
    cry, "Holy, holy, holy,
    O blessed Trinity!"

John 1:14–18

  • The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

  • 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Good news questions

  • Why is it better the way John puts it? Why is it better not that the Word became "human," or "a person," but that the word became flesh?
  • John saw Jesus's glory with his own eyes? Where can you see it even now?

For others pray

  • That God spreads the good news of the kingdom of the Son he loves in Mauritania

J.S. Bach's beautiful music for today

  • BWV 122 (YouTube, "The Newborn Little Child")
  • What does this newborn little child bring you? 
  • A glad new year, and more:
    • the joy of the angels
    • mouths full of thanksgiving
    • and great confidence in time of trial.
  • "If God is reconciled and is our friend ... what can the wicked foe do to us?"

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