Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection
December 31, 2021
1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18
As we approach the end of the Christmas octave, it is most appropriate that we look at the beginning. I am not talking about the beginning of the Christmas season, but the beginning that St. John is talking about, the VERY beginning of it all. And that beginning was God. I do not care how far back you go, even to beyond infinity, God is. Not was, but IS. God has existed beyond all time that we can even comprehend and will exist for all time that we cannot even imagine. Jesus’ coming at Christmas was just the fulfilling of the Word, the Word that became flesh and as St. John says, The Word was God.
Jesus came so that all men, regardless of who they were, if they believed, would be saved. And yet, there are many that did not believe and rejected Him. But for those who did believe, God dwelt among them, and God still dwells amongst us now, as long as we believe.
We do need to be careful though, as St. John warns us in the first reading, the antichrist is amongst us, trying to pull us away with false teachings. And to clear up who John is saying the antichrist is, it is any and all false teachers claiming to be with us, but in the end, they desert us and go away. The world is full of such teachers, those who claim to be of Christ, but through their words, and their actions, show us they are not. I am pretty sure you have seen or heard of someone like this. But make no mistake, if they are not following the teachings of Jesus Christ, they are not with us. Stay away from them and return to Jesus, the truth and the light. Jesus is the one whom we will trust, the one God sent amongst us, to show us the way, the truth and the light. The beginning of it all.
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