Monday, January 8, 2024  

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Scripture Reading
John 1:1–9

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 into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (NRSV)

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Reflection

Someone once told me that you should always read the last chapter of a book first. And I remember staring at that person for a long time. Are you kidding me? Why would I ruin the suspense that an author worked so hard to create by reading the last chapter before I ever honored the effort by plugging through from the beginning?

But in many ways, the first lines of John’s Gospel insist on being read as if they were the last. “Flip it on its head,” the Gospel writer seems to be saying. Look at the origins to see the destiny or look at the end to see the beginning. OK, do I have you baffled? Stay with me.

“In the beginning …” Yes, the Gospel writer stands in an odd time warp, looking through the life of a man, Jesus, who is the source of new beginnings.

“In the beginning …” Think: creation. God’s beginnings at the very launch of this whole project. And in that beginning, God spoke, and creation arose from the chaos, the void. Yes, the word gave rise to sheep, elephants, moss, hail, constellations, and you.

“In the beginning …” came the Word. Not words but the word, the flesh-word … Jesus. And this one Word, Jesus, is the light. This Jesus is the light that shines, the brilliant light that shimmers, glows, lights up everything, even the scary, unsettled, pushed-out-of-view places that haunt your heart and your sister’s heart as well.

So, back to starting at the end and making your way to the beginning, what if you began with light or holiness or that glow that you felt a long time ago that tries to find its way to the surface, if you don’t, with all your might, try to push it down?

What if you began at the end, at the true light that enlightens you, that arises despite you trying to take things in order?

What if you trusted that the very light of the world has already dawned and is so inebriated with the Divine that he is awakening the light that has dimmed over time in you?

What if you started with Jesus’ light that sings through every pore of your being and cannot be contained?

Have you ever had the experience of making your way from the end to the beginning?

Today may be your day.

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Prayer
Start with us, O God, this day. Sing through the light, the very Light of the world. And let us begin with Amen, that is, “so be it” as a way of holding our lives before you. And then, with glorious beams from your face, O Christ, let us join you on this grand pilgrimage, bearing witness, shining out because we can’t help it! Amen.

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Written by Lucy Forster-Smith, Senior Associate Pastor

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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