John 1:1-18
The Word Becomes 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 husband’s 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.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Luke 2:1-21
Jesus is Born
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Matthew 5:43-48
Loving Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 22:36-40
Two Greatest Commandments
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
John 17:3
Now This is Eternal Life
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
St. John tells us that Jesus is the Word and the that He has been with God from the very beginning...And that Jesus came and dwelt among us...The Word and He became flesh...Born is a stable and as a Baby sleeping in a manger...The One who has been with God from the beginning allowed Himself to be placed in a manger...An odd way and place to be born...What reasons might the One who wants us to believe in Him start His life like this?...Maybe this wasn't so odd at all...We definitely know it was part of God's Plan...God planned His Son to be born this way in Bethlehem...And when we think about the Plan's of God, we know they are the Best Laid Plans...
When we think about this, all relationships do start somewhere and at sometime...I think most people would say that they cannot get along or have a relationship with everyone...They might further say that they cannot be friends with every single person they meet (nor do maybe they want to)...But I think Jesus might disagree with this...He knows that if we follow His teachings, we can make things better, much better...He says to be perfect as God is Perfect...That is a tall order, but Jesus actions and time on earth He set the bar very high for us...He is what we can as humans potentially reach...We can learn to love our neighbors and our enemies, if we are like Him...And in thinking these things, let us remember that He is Divine...And comparing Him to other men is just not possible from our point of view...
But Jesus does want us to have a relationship with Him and His Father...And to have a relationship, we must be able to relate to the One we want to have a relationship with...We have to have a connection of some sort...Some call this connection a common interest or a chemistry...I would also think that Jesus has this natural and unique chemistry with all of us, since all things are created through Him...Jesus wants to have a relationship with everyone...He wants everyone to be children of God, and to realize that God is our Father...How can everyone have a relationship with Him, if that is one of His intentions, or how can we not if He is Divine?...
But getting back to the point of relationships there is a starting point from somewhere where people get to know friend...There is this first time for people being able to relate to those who we have relationships with...I believe that God had Jesus born in a lowly stable and slept in a manger when He was a Baby, so everyone could relate to Him...If He were born in a palace, in the softest of beds, and being waited on hand and foot, it would be more difficult for people like the shepherds of the field and people low in class in different societies to be able to relate to Him...Being born how He was born gives everyone an opportunity to relate to Him and start this relationship with Him, regardless of one's background...How could a Teacher be a Teacher to all, and with His background be a Minister to ALL?...But He was and He is everyone's Teacher...When we think about it, much if not all of His teachings are based on love...He teaches us to follow our hearts...The difference in what He taught and other teachers teach is an eternity...This is why His ideas and His teachings are still around today...LOVE is not transient, but LOVE is eternal...