Today, on the feast day of Saint John the beloved Apostle, I find myself reflecting on the profound words from the first chapter of his Gospel: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us!”

How often do we truly ponder the mystery of the Incarnation? What does it signify that God became man, taking up residence in flesh and bone to dwell among us? For me, this makes Christ more compelling than any other “god.” The idea that God would intentionally lower Himself to be with us is deeply moving. It’s akin to the artist becoming the greatest work of art.

Christ, as scripture states, is the author and perfecter of our faith. As John declares, He is the divine Logos, the Word through which everything is created and given meaning. This same author and designer stepped into time, becoming a part of His own masterpiece. To me, that is divine beauty.

Rembrandt famously painted himself into his scenes, most notably in his depictions of the Prodigal Son. He saw himself in the story and sought to illuminate the importance of recognizing ourselves within it. Similarly, Christ has written Himself into the story He created, becoming the centerpiece that holds everything together. Unlike artists and writers who can only depict an idea, He has written Himself in, in real life. Our God was not only delighted in His creation, but He also desired to participate in it. Even when humanity actively turned away from its creator, the creator still yearned to be a part of creation.

For me, this truth cements the statement that God loves me, that He sees all of us and desires not only to heal and restore us but also to become a part of our stories. The Gospels depict Christ as one who enters into the lives of others and radically transforms them. He changed the lives of the apostles, the lepers, the sinners, the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the religious, and even government officials. No one was untouched by the life of Christ as He entered it. Wherever He went, transformation followed. Likewise, our lives are changed when He enters them. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us… And from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” May Christ find our bodies a place where He is pleased to dwell. On this day, I think of John as a man who deeply wrestled with the concept of the Word dwelling among us. He saw Christ as both a man and the divine Word that gives life to the world, and what he saw in Him was Love, and only love.

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

To be aware of the divine is to know and express love. John reminds us that the Word, incarnate in flesh, revealed immeasurable grace—a grace that inspires an abundance of love in the world. On this feast day, let us contemplate this mystery and rejoice in this love, demonstrating to the world the Love that the Divine Creator has imprinted upon our hearts.

Collect for the feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist:

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light, that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.