The prologue of John’s gospel has everything: poetry, mysticism, creation, redemption. It is a hymn to the pre-existent Christ, the Word who is “light.” It announces the stunning good news that those who believe can become “children of God.” It celebrates the abundance of the glory we have seen in Christ. It names the lived experience of believers as “grace upon grace.” The emblem of Saint John the Evangelist has traditionally been the eagle, because of the soaring grandeur of the prologue of John’s gospel. Its reputation for graceful flight is well deserved.
John’s gospel is not, however, a story about shepherds and angels. And for that reason, although it is the assigned reading for the Mass on Christmas day, most of the souls who attend will not hear it. Many priests routinely avail themselves of the permission to use other readings in place of the readings proper to the Mass of Christmas day. “People want to hear about shepherds and angels,” a pastor I once worked for told me, “and that’s what we give them.” I’m convinced this represents a loss.
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