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ALPHA
OMEGA HOUSE
12/2/14
Dear Alpha Omega House,
The celebration of the birth of our Lord is fast approaching. With it, life seems to speed up a few clicks.
What an important time it is to stop and reflect on the season. Ive always loved the opening versus of the
Gospel of John. For me, they capture an important and necessary perspective on the subject of God
making His dwelling among us.
The
Word
Became
Flesh
1
In
the
beginning
was
the
Word,
and
the
Word
was
with
God,
and
the
Word
was
God.2
He
was
with
God
in
the
beginning.
3
Through
him
all
things
were
made;
without
him
nothing
was
made
that
has
been
made.
4
In
him
was
life,
and
that
life
was
the
light
of
all
mankind.
5
The
light
shines
in
the
darkness,
and
the
darkness
has
not
overcome
it.
6
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness
to
testify
concerning
that
light,
so
that
through
him
all
might
believe.
8
He
himself
was
not
the
light;
he
came
only
as
a
witness
to
the
light.
9
The
true
light
that
gives
light
to
everyone
was
coming
into
the
world.
10
He
was
in
the
world,
and
though
the
world
was
made
through
him,
the
world
did
not
recognize
him.11
He
came
to
that
which
was
his
own,
but
his
own
did
not
receive
him.
12
Yet
to
all
who
did
receive
him,
to
those
who
believed
in
his
name,
he
gave
the
right
to
become
children
of
God
13
children
born
not
of
natural
descent,
nor
of
human
decision
or
a
husbands
will,
but
born
of
God.
14
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.
There are many great points that can be pulled from this passage. It begins with a declaration of who
John knew Jesus to be. He was born the fullness of God in human form. He was from the beginning and
is God. Likewise, Jesus was born as life giving light to all mankind. That light is the truth about the
source of our lives. Theres a conversation at the end of this gospel where, being questioned by the
Roman authority Pontius Pilate, Jesus tells Pilate that he was born into the world to testify to the truth.
To which Pilate asks, what is truth? (John 18:28-40)
When I think about the fullness of God, a force that I can never comprehend but only glimpse in
the incredible awesomeness of world and universe around me, Im blown away. But if Im being honest,
the verse in this passage that humbles me most is the last one. This fullness of God became flesh and
made his dwelling among us. We, who fight, abuse, worry endlessly, are selfish, messy, prone to hatred
and persecution, and are as a whole unworthy of union with God. He came and made his dwelling
among us full of grace and truth.
The best way I can capture my response to this is in a quote by Thomas Merton, Our job is to
love without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it
is nobodys business. What we are asked to do is to love, and that love itself will render both ourselves
and our neighbors worthy. This Christmas, lets respond to Christ by remembering with hope that no
matter our condition or the condition of our neighbor, the love of God is ever present. He stands at the
door knocking. Those of us who believe and are being remade in His likeness, lets continue to love and
knock and seek with a patience that reflects the love weve received from Christ. Amen
Sincerely,
Brian Gillette
Director of Youth and Young Adult
The Village Presbyterian Church
briang@villagechurch.org