In his Prologue, John speaks to us of the Word made one of us, as a sign of God's gratuitous love and unwavering faithfulness towards us.
In his autograph writings, in his Letter to the Faithful, Francis emphasises:
"The Most High heavenly Father, through his holy angel Gabriel, announced this Word of the Father, so worthy, so holy and glorious, in the womb of the holy and glorious Virgin Mary, and from her womb he received the true flesh of our humanity and frailty.
He who was rich above all else, chose in this world, together with the most blessed Virgin, his mother, poverty" (FF 181-182).
And Clare in her Testament echoes this by saying:
"The Son of God became our Way; and this by word and example our blessed father Francis, a true lover and imitator of Him, showed and taught us" (FF 2824).
Yes, Francis contemplated the Word of God made flesh.
That is why the sacred live nativity scene was born, to see with the eyes of the body the hardships suffered by the God made one of us.
The Sources say:
"The Saint is there ecstatic before the crib, full of sighs, his spirit vibrating with compunction and ineffable joy" (FF 469).
"And we have contemplated his glory" (Jn 1:14).
Francis and Clare meditate and contemplate the Fullness of Light that has come to visit us as the rising sun that gives Hope to all men, those reborn of water and the Spirit.
31 December - VII day between the Octave of Christmas (Jn 1:1-18)
