MASS READINGS:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:1-18

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

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.

Reflection: He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him,

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him,

We can understand the truth of these words because Jesus enlightens everyone as all grace and truth come through him.

I close my eyes and immerse myself in God's " true light." He shows me who He is. I see His creation in my brethren . God pronounces their names, one by one, and they all “came to be through Him”, each one unique, each one with Jesus living in them. (Is 43-1: “I have called you by name, you are mine!”). I hear my own name, and I am allowed to see the creation of my own spirit through Jesus.

And God, our creator, became man. Jesus came into this world as the real light for everyone for there was darkness. He came to live among us. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"…Imagine baby Jesus seeing his mother for the first time with human eyes, admiring the beauty and perfection of his own creation, loving Mary as her son and as her Lord.

I reflect on the first time that Jesus’s human body was held by the arms of his Blessed Mother. Her tender arms caressing him , and Jesus feeling her love and protection. How vulnerable baby Jesus was! He needed Mary’s care to survive, while at the same time he continued to direct the universe from Mary’s arms, what a paradox!

That beautiful paradox constantly repeats itself in our relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. How vulnerable Jesus decided to become! Under the form of bread, he needs our care and depends on each of us to be handled and served with reverence and love. At the same time, he is the King of the Universe and he can do all things, even the impossible.

Our Lady was trusted by God the Father to care for His son while he was a baby, an infant, a child and a teenager, and to perfectly love and worship him in time and eternity. Let’s pray to Our Lady to teach us how to care for Jesus in the Eucharist just like she cared for him as a baby, and to obtain for us the grace to love Jesus as he desires and commands to be loved.

Mother of God, pray for us!

Mother of the Savior, pray for us!

Mother of the Redeemer, pray for us!