April 19 - John 1:1-17 - this is it

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 came into being through Him. And without Him not one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the Light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify to the Light. He was the true Light that enlightens everyone coming into the world. The Light was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 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.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified to Him and cried out, “This was He of Whom I said, ‘He Who comes after me ranks ahead of me because He was before me.’” From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The Law indeed was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ​

In many ways, Pascha is the end of the journey. In a whole lot other ways, the journey is only beginning. Lenten journey, journey of preparation and yearning for God is coming to an end. We come face to face with the risen Lord. He pulls out Adam and Eve by their hands out of hell (see the icon of Resurrection), and we follow along.

This is it. We are saved.

Yet...what do we do with this gift of salvation? There is no such thing as once saved always saved. Yes, salvation was achieved once and for by Jesus Christ. But our individual salvation is still very much up in the air. And it depends on the journey we take once we realize that the gift is here.

For last year's reflection, click here.

Yours in the Lord,
Father Aleksey