The Gospel of John uses poetry to describe Christmas. Poetry has a great capacity to convey layers of meaning and mystery. The Gospel speaks of two worlds -the divine and the earthly - Jesus is the bridge.

The first words are "In the beginning" (1:1); this echoes the first words of Genesis. Here is something new, Jesus is giving human history a new beginning.

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (1:14). Unlike the Gospel of Luke, the Incarnation is not described directly as the birth of a child, but rather poetically, as the divine Word taking human physicality and living among us. This verse in Greek provides an image: God has pitched his "tent" to live among us.

"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, and has made Him known" (1:18). Jesus is not merely a good person; He is God. Moreover, Jesus is a personal God! Jesus has come to earth to invite us to share in the relationship between Father and Son.

How would I like to respond to Jesus' invitation?