KNOW JESUS OR NO JESUS?

We continue to prepare for the two-thousandth anniversary celebration of Jesus' Incarnation. Tomorrow, we begin a year of fixing our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2) in a special way. (In 1998, the Church calls us to focus on the Holy Spirit and, in 1999, on God the Father. [see Toward the Third Millennium, Pope John Paul II])

Today's Gospel reading gives us a headstart in directing our attention on Jesus, for it reveals that Jesus is:

• the Eternal Word (Jn 1:1),
• the Word Who is God (Jn 1:1),
• the Word incarnate as a human being (Jn 1:14),
• the Creator (Jn 1:3),
• the Life (Jn 1:4; 14:6),
• the Light (Jn 1:9; 8:12),
• the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah (Jn 1:17),
• the uniquely begotten Son of God (Jn 1:18), and
• the Revelation of the Father (Jn 1:18; Heb 1:3) and the only Way to Him (Jn 14:6).

These verses beginning John's Gospel are only the beginning of knowing Jesus. "Absolute fullness reside(s) in Him" (Col 1:19). Spend this next year, the rest of your life, and eternity in knowing Jesus, for "eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ" (Jn 17:3). Know Jesus.