Noël
 
Merry Christmas!  
   
lumière de Noël Light permeates our Christmas celebrations. At nightfall, the streets are streamed with lights; shops are floodlit to attract many customers. In homes, candles are lighted and we can see some light in the eyes of children.
 
   
At the Mass on Christmas day, I like to listen to the famous Prologue of Saint John, unveiling profound and unimagined meanings:  
   
le Verb s'est fait chair «In the beginning was the Word,
- the Word of God-
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God…
In Him was life,
And the life was the light of men…
The Word was the true Light
that enlightens every man coming into the world…
And the Word became flesh
And dwelt among us…»
 
   
From the beginning, every human being throughout his life has been able to benefit by this light from the Word. His heart has been enlightened by this light. We can find traces of that in all cultures and religions. The darkness has not overcome this light.
John the Baptist bore witness to the light that has enlightened every human being throughout all times and not only since Jesus came. A light that opens the heart to love and gives sense to life.
John the Baptist represents all the great wise men of humanity who have been able to perceive the light of the Word in the darkness of their lives.
 
   
These thoughts stimulate us to a dialogue with the other religions and to meet other cultures so different from ours.
At Christmas, the Word has come to live among us. What does the Word seek today? He seeks his true place among us.
Let us open our hearts to the Word, who has become flesh, to let his light shine.
 
   
Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Jacques Gaillot
étoile de Betlehem