Reflection

Yesterday we saw something of the historical truths revealed in the gospels. John’s Gospel too reveals such truths about Jesus’ life on earth. But John also appeals to the philosophically minded reader using language that points to spiritual or transcendent realities. Beyond the everyday existence of life in Palestine, and beyond the short human life of Jesus of Nazareth, are the realities that we find so hard to put into words. How to speak of time and space before there was time and space?

Current science tells us that there was indeed a beginning and that everything, even including time itself, came into existence a long, long time ago. But science takes us no further. Science cannot comment on the reality that transcends the physical universe. Why is there something rather than nothing? And, if the universe resulted from the laws of physics, how did the laws of physics come into being? The Christian answer is clear: in the beginning was God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is the uncaused cause, eternally existing. Everything owes its existence to God, and John, at the start of his Gospel, emphasises that Jesus is the creating Word of God.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Word of God, through whom all things came to be, we worship you. We give our lives to the Word who became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth. Remind us daily of the wonder of God becoming man, and lead us to daily praise.