John 1:1-18
Today we begin another journey, different than those roads we have taken in the past. Yesterday John suggested that our old RTB bus analogy falls short, that actually we are all on mopeds, traveling on our own, each guided differently than the others. We found John’s analogy both humorous and intriguing. But to his moped analogy I would suggest that we all have the same roadmap and that we start at the same beginning point each day and end at the same end point each day. But “all roads lead to Rome” and there are many ways in which we can get from A to B. So we move as the Spirit leads us.
So what did I notice today? (“Notice what you notice.”) What struck me was “…we beheld His glory…”. I thought of John the Apostle as writing those words literally. John was present at the Transfiguration and the Ascension, both occasions when Jesus’ glory was made most manifest to His followers than at any other time. There were also miracles that were beyond human explanation, but I have in mind only those two “glory sightings”, and the second, if you will, “completes” the first. Jesus’ glory as revealed at the Transfiguration was “completed” with His Ascension. So just ponder those two events with me in your own mind. Real “glory sightings”… GLORY!!
Blessings on your new year!!
Thanks, Fred, for kicking off the new year with the ultimate glory sightings. GLORY, indeed!
With our closer look through the Gospels this year, I’d like to propose that we each supplement our reading and study with memorization. Pick a verse (or two!) each week and really burn it into your mind and heart. That will likely help each of us to avoid the “I’m-already-familiar-with-this-story-so-I-don’t-really-need-to-pay-attention” problem. It will also promote knowing “where to find what” — for example, that the beatitudes are in Matthew 5, or that the Samaritan woman at the well is in John 4. Those are just a couple potential benefits; there are many more.
And if you want a couple suggestions of verses to start with, you need look no further than today’s reading: try John 1:1 and John 1:14 (or for the more ambitious, all of John 1:1-18!).
May you all have a very blessed new year!