The best way to respond to today’s scripture reading is to say nothing — to let it stand in all its elegance, its mystery, its power. But being a preacher, I am genetically unable to say nothing. So I will try to share with you my deep need and my deep affection for this particular passage of God’s holy word. This is what John says to me, and so to you, this first Sunday in the new year.

In the beginning — back before our imaginations can imagine
in the beginning — there was darkness —
deep dazzling darkness.
And in the center of this deep dark womb was God
a warm wonderful Word, the pulsing Word of Life.

And then out of the dazzling darkness
came dazzling light —
stars, bursting sun, glowing moon
a holy metamorphosis.
Dazzling light out of dazzling darkness.
This was the light of the fi…