A man came, sent by God; his name was John. He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light,
so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light;
for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone.
He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him.
He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him; but to all who received him,
he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name.
These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father:
fullness of truth and loving-kindness. John bore witness to him openly, saying, “This is the one who comes after me,
but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me.”
From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor. For God had given us the law through Moses,
but Truth and Loving-kindness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God,
but God-the-only-Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.

REFLECTION:
On the 7th day of the Octave of Christmas the Liturgy brings our thoughts to central mystery of the Incarnation,
namely: that the baby born in the manger of Bethlehem is GOD!
The prologue of John speaks of the Divine nature and origin of the Word that became flesh.
He pre-existed. The Word is God, “true God from God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.”
This is what we proclaim when we make our profession of Faith. This profession of Faith dates back to the early Church,
to the time of the Saint of today, St. Pope Sylvester I.
He was the Pope during the 1st Ecumenical Council of the Church in Nicea (325) This was the Council that tried
to settle the heresy that threatened the early Church: is ­Jesus of Nazareth of God equal to the Father? Arius,
a presbyter promoted the idea that Jesus was ONLY a man.
St. Athanasius vigorously defended our Catholic Faith that Jesus is true God and true man.
So now we recite at our Sunday Eucharist the creed, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed we owe to
St. Athanasius and to St. Pope Sylvester.
Yes, truly the little infant on the manger of Bethlehem is God! So must we “O come all ye faithful to Bethlehem,
o come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!”

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020