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Whereas Matthew and Luke, especially through their genealogies of Jesus and the appearance of the angels to Mary and Joseph, situate the beginning of Jesus' human life within the context of human history to show him to be a human being, a descendant of Adam, or else a descendant of David. In the third Mass for Christmas we read the beginning of John's Gospel, where John echoes the opening words of Genesis and adapts them to assert that Jesus has his origin in God and became flesh to dwell among us. So while Matthew and Luke emphasize the human nature of Jesus, John seeks to remind us of Jesus' divinity, as if he were saying: We must realize the divinity of Jesus if we truly wish to understand everything that this Gospel is about to relate about him in his earthly life in Galilee and Judea: there is no other proper perspective from which to understand Jesus apart from the perspective of his divinity in his relationship with the Father.
Lord Jesus, You have taught us that no one can come to the Father except through You. By the light of Your truth guide our lives on earth that we may come to know the Father through You and in You and so come to the fullness of eternal life.
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DAILY OFFERING
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Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time.
Elaboration
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