The Word was made flesh, among us it dwelt; and all who welcomed her became children of God

 Gospel: John 1,1-18

The Word was made flesh, among us it dwelt; and all who welcomed her became children of God (Jn 1:14.12). – R.

Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. 2 In the beginning she was with God. 3 Everything was made through her, and without her nothing was made that was made. 4 In her was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. 6 A man sent by God appeared; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light: 9 to him who was the true light, which, coming into the world, gives light to every human being. 10 The Word was in the world - and the world was made through it - but the world did not want to know it. 11 She came to what was hers, and her own did not accept her. 12 But to all who received him, he gave the ability to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in his name, 13 for these were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God himself. 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory which he receives from the Father as the only begotten Son, full of grace and truth. 15 John bears witness to him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has preceded me, because he was before me. 16 From his fullness we all receive grace for grace. 17For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came to us through Jesus Christ. 18 God no one has ever seen. But the only begotten of God, who is in the intimacy of the Father, he made him known to us. - Word of salvation.

The prologue presents us with the trajectory of Jesus Christ, sent by the Father to carry out a mission in the world, namely, to transmit the message of salvation. Once the mission is over, he returns to the Father (v. 18). Here Jesus is designated with a special name: Word. Effective, creative word: “the world was made through her”. The Word is God; he exists from the beginning and manifests himself as a human person: “the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us”. It doesn't come suddenly. It was announced by John the Baptist. What John preached is that everyone should believe in Jesus, the true light. Many did not believe. Jesus and his disciples experienced strong opposition and persecution. But to those who believed, Jesus "gave power to become children of God."

A boy was born to us: a son was given to us! The power rests on your shoulders. He will be called “Messenger of the counsel of God” (Is 9:6).

The evangelist warns Christians against the antagonists of Christ arising within the community itself. A painful reality, but also an occasion to witness to the faith assumed in Baptism. Let us ask the Lord to increase our faith.

First Reading: 1 John 2:18-21

Reading of the first letter of Saint John – 18 Little children, this is the last hour. You have heard that the antichrist will come. Indeed, many antichrists have already appeared. Therefore, we know that the last hour has come. 19 They left our midst, but they were not ours, for if they were really ours, they would have remained with us. But it was necessary to be clear that not all of them are ours. 20 You have already received the anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 If I wrote to you, it is not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it and because no lie comes from the truth. - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 95(96)

Heaven rejoice and earth rejoice!

1. Sing to the Lord God a new song, / sing to the Lord God, O whole earth! / Sing and bless his holy name! / Day after day announce your salvation. – R.

2. Let heaven rejoice and earth rejoice, / applaud the sea with what lives in its waters; / the fields with their fruits rejoice / and the forests and woods rejoice. – R.

3. In the presence of the Lord, for he comes, / because he comes to judge the whole earth. / He will rule the whole world with justice / and the peoples will judge with loyalty. – R.