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The Gospel today: [1 John 1:1-18 (NAB)]
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.
As I reflect for today's readings and Gospel, I heard God whispered: "Isn't this LOVE?"
Unto the very last day, God's message is LOVE.
His unfathomable, unconditional LOVE.
All of these are because of LOVE:
- All things were made through Jesus Christ.
- Whatever has come to be, found life in Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ is the light, which darkness can never overcome.
- Jesus Christ came for his own; for what is his.
- Those who received Christ, he empowers to become children of God.
- Who Jesus Christ owns are born of God; and not because of anyone's will, but God's.
- In Jesus Christ, we have received grace after grace.
- In Jesus Christ, we have truth and grace.
- No one has seen God, but through Jesus Christ, God has been revealed.
GOD loves us so much. And so, as his sons and daughters, we, like John, should respond to Him in love:
- Bear witness to introduce the Light, who is Jesus Christ, that others might believe.
- Testify to the Love of God.
- Share God's love and not our love.
- Live in the light. Live a pure life.
"GOD is the essence of life, the energy of grace, the reason of our existence, and the purpose of life. It is in this GOD that we live and move and have our being." --Bible Diary 2010
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Man 1: I love you so much.
Man 2: Why?
Man 1: I don't know. I just love you.
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GOD: I love you so much.
Man: Why?
GOD: Because I, your GOD, is love.
GOD has all the reason to love us. This is because He is, in Himself, LOVE. And He only has not all the reason to love us, but that He loved us first and His love is perfect. (cf. 1 John 4). And nothing can separate us from this love of God in Christ Jesus. (cf. Romans 8:38-39).
And He had proved His love for us in this: that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. (cf. Romans 5:8).
Instead of us dying for our sins, Jesus Christ paid the price.
This is GRACE.
This is LOVE: unfathomable and unconditional
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Lord, I do understand your love and your grace; but I just cannot comprehend its greatness.
I just cannot even imagine it.
It is more than myself. It consumes me.
It is so uncontainable. You, oh Lord, is uncontainable.
Thank you Lord! Amen.
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