The Word
Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas (Dec. 31)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 1:1-18 – 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.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
One of the many wonderful things about the apostles carrying out the “Great Commission” is how they carried out their mission. They certainly did go out everywhere preaching the Gospel and baptizing people in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as they were commanded. But as they did, they witnessed to the fact that they had seen Jesus Christ’s glory: “we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). They had all witnessed Him after His Resurrection from the dead. And it had changed their life.
A true experience of Christ should change our lives. It is certainly a powerful thing to know the faith, to communicate it, to argue for it if called to, and we should strive to do these things. But it is a powerful, personal thing when we can say, “Jesus Christ changed me.” This is a strong witness to a desperate world. “We saw His glory.” Have we seen His glory? Have we shared this “witness” with others? A great Christmas gift to another person might be our personal witness of Christ in our lives.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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