The Word Became Flesh

This last week of Advent, we light the Angels candle, or candle of love. The Gospel of John does not record Jesus' birth as the other Gospels do, but his description of the Incarnation captures this theme of love -- without really ever saying so. He begins the book by setting the stage:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

- John 1:1-5

A little later, John tells us how Christ's love was made visible:

 

The Message translation says, "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." I live in a very dense, diverse neighborhood. What would it look like if Jesus was born in my neighborhood? Who would be the characters in the familiar nativity story, the angels, the shepherds, King Herod, the magi? Because for the story to have any meaning, someone has to proclaim, someone has to receive the good news, someone has to reject Him, someone has to worship him.

Would we even recognize God's glory, grace and truth?