Celtic Odyssey

  John 1.[1-9], 10-18 (TIB; adapted): [1] [IN THE BEGINNING there was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. 2 The Word was present to God from the beginning. 3 Through the Word all things came into being, and apart from the Word nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In the Word was life, and that life was humanity’s light— 5 a Light that shines in the darkness, a Light that the darkness has never overtaken. 6 Then came one named John, sent as an envoy from God, 7 who came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through his testimony everyone might believe. 8 He himself wasn’t the Light; he only came to testify about the Light — the true Light that illumines all humankind. 9 The Word was coming into the world—] 10 was in the world— and though the world was made through the Word, the world didn’t recognize it. 11 Though the Word came to its own realm, the Word’s own people didn’t accept it. Yet any who did accept the Word, who believed...

John 16.12-15 (CEB; adapted): [1] 12 “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now. 13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, They’ll guide you in all truth. They won’t speak on Their own, but will say whatever They hear and will proclaim to you what’s to come. 14 They’ll glorify me, because They’ll take what’s mine and proclaim it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what’s mine and will proclaim it to you. Other readings: Proverbs 8.1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5.1-5 Prayer: All-Loving and everlasting God, you’ve given us grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  ...

John 3.1-18 (MSG; adapted): 1 1-2 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it.” 3 Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to — to God’s Realm.” 4 “How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who’s already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?” 5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation — the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life — it’s not possible to enter God’s Realm. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at a...