Nativity - Proper III

And the Word Became Flesh
Frank Wesley, 1923-2002

My dear friends,

The opening verses of John’s Gospel call us into the mystery of existence itself, a mystery that bridges the eternal and the temporal. It is not merely history but theology—truth presented to awaken us to our divine potential. In a time when many feel the absence of God, John reminds us that the Word is ever-present, calling us to embody the divine light and love.

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:1

The Word (Logos) represents the creative principle and wisdom at the heart of all things. This Word is not distant but intimately connected to every moment of our lives. To hear the Word is to recognize that we, too, are vessels of this divine reality, capable of speaking and living in alignment with its truth.

He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being.
- John 1:2-3a

These verses teach us that all creation bears the imprint of the divine Word. In our Buddhist-Christian understanding, this is a call to see the interconnectedness of all beings, arising through the same wisdom and love. We honor the Word by cherishing life and acting with compassion for all that exists.

What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
- John 1:3b-4

The life and light in these verses remind us of our own spiritual journey. Just as the Word animates creation, so too does our inner light awaken when we live in harmony with the divine. This light is wisdom and compassion, the essence of the Bodhisattva’s path.

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overtake it....
- John 1:5

Darkness here symbolizes ignorance and suffering, yet the light of truth remains undiminished. Both Jesus and the Buddha teach us to cultivate this inner light, overcoming ignorance with awareness and despair with the radiance of love.

The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.
- John 1:9

The light is universal, shining for all beings regardless of creed or culture. This is a profound truth shared by Christianity and Buddhism: the potential for enlightenment resides in every one of us. It is our sacred task to recognize and nurture it.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him;
yet the world did not know him
- John 1:10

The world’s failure to recognize the divine presence is a reflection of our own forgetfulness. We become lost in materialism and ego, unable to see the sacred in ourselves or others. Spiritual practice helps us awaken to this truth anew.

He came to what was his own,and his own people did not accept him.
- John 1:11

Rejection of the divine is part of the human condition. Yet, this rejection is not final. Both Jesus and the Buddha teach us that through mindfulness and love, we can return to the path of truth and rediscover our capacity for enlightenment.

But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God, who were born,
not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
- John 1:12-13

To be "children of God" is to live with awakened hearts and minds. This new birth transcends the limitations of the flesh and ego, inviting us into a life of spiritual transformation and service.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
- John 1:14

This verse encapsulates the heart of the Gospel: the divine is not distant but present in the world. Just as Jesus embodied grace and truth, we are called to become vessels of this presence, manifesting love and wisdom in our lives.

Jesus answered him,
"Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them,
and we will come to them and make our home with them.
- John 14:23

To keep the Word is to live in alignment with the Holy Spirit, the "Awakening Mind" of Bodhicitta. It is to embody compassion and wisdom, allowing the divine to dwell within us and radiate out to all beings.

"...[T]hat which I have proclaimed and made known as the Dhamma and the Discipline,
that shall be your Master when I am gone."
- Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha, 6.1

Both Jesus and the Buddha leave us with the same profound message: the truth they embodied is now ours to live. Their teachings are our guide, and through our practice, we become the Word made flesh.

Beloved friends, the Gospel of John invites us into a transformative encounter with the divine. It calls us not merely to believe, but to become: to live as Christ and the Buddha lived, embodying the Word and illuminating the path for others. May we all rise to this sacred calling.