The

ALPHA
OMEGA HOUSE
12/2/14
Dear Alpha Omega House,
The celebration of the birth of our Lord is fast approaching. With it, life seems to speed up a few clicks.
What an important time it is to stop and reflect on the season. Ive always loved the opening versus of the
Gospel of John. For me, they capture an important and necessary perspective on the subject of God
making His dwelling among us.
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life
was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.
6

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness

to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself
was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was
in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not

recognize him.11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive
him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave
the right to become children of God 13 children born not of natural descent, nor
of human decision or a husbands will, but born of God.
14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his

glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of
grace and truth.

There are many great points that can be pulled from this passage. It begins with a declaration of who
John knew Jesus to be. He was born the fullness of God in human form. He was from the beginning and
is God. Likewise, Jesus was born as life giving light to all mankind. That light is the truth about the
source of our lives. Theres a conversation at the end of this gospel where, being questioned by the
Roman authority Pontius Pilate, Jesus tells Pilate that he was born into the world to testify to the truth.
To which Pilate asks, what is truth? (John 18:28-40)
When I think about the fullness of God, a force that I can never comprehend but only glimpse in
the incredible awesomeness of world and universe around me, Im blown away. But if Im being honest,
the verse in this passage that humbles me most is the last one. This fullness of God became flesh and
made his dwelling among us. We, who fight, abuse, worry endlessly, are selfish, messy, prone to hatred
and persecution, and are as a whole unworthy of union with God. He came and made his dwelling
among us full of grace and truth.
The best way I can capture my response to this is in a quote by Thomas Merton, Our job is to
love without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it
is nobodys business. What we are asked to do is to love, and that love itself will render both ourselves
and our neighbors worthy. This Christmas, lets respond to Christ by remembering with hope that no
matter our condition or the condition of our neighbor, the love of God is ever present. He stands at the
door knocking. Those of us who believe and are being remade in His likeness, lets continue to love and
knock and seek with a patience that reflects the love weve received from Christ. Amen
Sincerely,
Brian Gillette
Director of Youth and Young Adult
The Village Presbyterian Church
briang@villagechurch.org