THE SEVENTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS - Gospel (Jn 1:1-18) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (Jn 1:14)

FIRST READING - 1 Jn 2:18-21

A reading from the Letter of John

Children, it is the last hour;

and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,

so now many antichrists have appeared.

Thus we know this is the last hour.

They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;

if they had been, they would have remained with us.

Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.

But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,

and you all have knowledge.

I write to you not because you do not know the truth

but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 1:1-18

From the Gospel according to John

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-begotten 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-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,

has revealed him.

THE SEVENTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS - Gospel (Jn 1:1-18)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God, God reveals to all humanity that The Word is God, He is the light that comes into the world. The Word has existed since eternity, and with just one Word He spoke, all things, all creatures in heaven and on earth were created.

Because of His love for humanity, the Light has come to the world to guide and show humankind the way to walk. The Word is the true light. It is this light that dispels darkness and dispels evil from people.

God wants everyone to run to the light of the Word; so that the light of the Word can lead us to true love, to the complete truth of God. It is because the Word has come to be with humanity in the world. The Word has become a true person like everyone else, due to His immense love.

And for the Word to come down to humanity, He sent Saint John to bring His light before Him to prepare the way for Him. Saint John testified that The Word, who came into the world and lived among humans, became like humans in all things except sin.

Humanity must change our hearts to welcome Him. That Word is God's great love, the unique love, the love that brings life and happiness to humans. Whoever runs to this Love will receive teachings and instructions; He teaches humanity through words, actions, and His whole being. That is, He sacrificed Himself, dying on the cross to redeem humanity.

Thus, when contemplating the mystery of the Word, God calls us to contemplate the mystery of His self-destruction, from the humble cave until He was hung on the Cross, and continues to self-destruct on the altars daily, in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. It manifests all the love of the Word. It is this love that will dispel darkness, dispel evil from humanity, save humankind, and restore all creatures to their original created nature.

God is light, He is love; He does not bring death nor darkness to souls; but He sacrificed Himself to death, in exchange for eternal life for mankind. Whoever wants to be happy, peaceful, and have eternal life, should run to the Word, the Word that is in the world.

Open the door of our souls, open our hearts to receive the Word into our hearts; the Word is manifested in today's world through the Eternal Word, the Realistic Word, and the Sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

15h00 Ngày 31-12-2024 Kinh Nguyện Lòng Thương Xót Chúa - Đường Vào Thiên Đàng