John & Liturgy: Ch. 1

Johannine Themes in Christian Liturgy
by Gail Gresser

including The Prologue (1:1-18) and John the Baptist (1:19-34)

The Johannine Prologue
(John 1:1-18)

Selections from the Prologue Used in the Lectionary:

Christmas Mass of the Day, Years A, B,C (#16) -- John 1:1-18
December 31, Years I and II (#205) -- John 1:1-18

Phrases and Images from the Prologue used in Liturgical Texts:

"Word"; "Word became flesh" (1:1, 14)
"and lived/dwelt among us" (1:14)

The Word/The Word Made Flesh (1:1,14)

Liturgy/Season	Prayer/Part of Liturgy	Context
ORDER of the MASS	Penitential Rite C,iii	"You are the Word made flesh and splendor of the Father: Lord, have mercy."
*Christmas*	Preface 3: Preface of Christmas I	"In the wonder of the incarnation your eternal Word has brought to the eyes of faith a new and radiant vision of your glory."
*Christmas*	Preface 5: Preface of Christmas III	"Your eternal Word has taken upon himself our human weakness, giving our mortal nature immortal value."
.	Preface 42: Weekdays VI	"He is the Word through whom you made the universe, the Savior you sent to redeem us."
.	Eucharistic Prayer II	"He is the Word through whom you made the universe...By the power of the Holy Spirit, he took flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary."
.	Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation II	"We praise you through your Son Jesus Christ, who comes in your name. He is the Word that brings salvation. He is the hand you stretch out to sinners. He is the way that leads to your peace."
.	Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions III: Jesus, Way to the Father	"Through your eternal Word you created all things and govern their course with infinite wisdom. In the Word made flesh you have given us a mediator who has spoken your words to us and called us to follow him."
*Christmas*	Solemn Blessing #2: Christmas	"When the Word became man, earth was joined to heaven."
*Ordinary Time*	Solemn Blessing Ordinary Time V (also Triumph of the Cross)	"May he set his Word in your heart and fill you with lasting joy."
PROPER of SEASONS *Advent* First Sunday	Alternative Opening Prayer	"our minds are searching for the light of your Word"
*Advent* Fourth Sunday	Alternative Opening Prayer	"Your eternal Word took flesh on our earth"
*Advent* December 17	Opening Prayer	"You decreed, and your Word became man."
*Advent* December 20	Opening Prayer	"She [Mary] became the temple of your Word."
*Christmas* Mass at Dawn	Opening Prayer	"we are filled with the new light by the coming of your Word among us."
*Christmas* Mass at Dawn	Alternative Opening Prayer	"Your eternal Word leaped down from heaven." [Cf. Wisdom 18:14-15 - "Your all powerful word leaped, O Lord, down from heaven"].
*Christmas* Mass During Day	Alternative Opening Prayer	"the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh... Make us people of this light. Make us faithful to your Word."
*Christmas* December 27 Feast of John, Apostle and Evangelist	Opening Prayer	"You have revealed the mysteries of your Word through St. John the apostle."
.	Prayer Over the Gifts	"With St. John we share in the hidden wisdom of your eternal Word, which you reveal at this Eucharistic Table."
.	Prayer After Communion	St. John proclaimed that your Word became flesh for our salvation."
*Christmas* Second Sunday	Alternative Opening Prayer	"May the simple beauty of Jesus' birth summon us always to love what is most deeply human, and to see your Word made flesh reflected in those whose lives we touch."
*Christmas:* Epiphany	Alternative Opening Prayer	"Father of light, unchanging God, today you reveal to men of faith the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh."
*Lent:* Second Sunday	Alternative Opening Prayer	"Father of light, in you is found no shadow of change, but only the fullness of life and limitless truth. Open our hearts to the voice of your Word and free us from the original darkness that shadows our vision."
*Lent:* Fourth Sunday	Opening Prayer	"Father of peace, we are joyful in your Word, your son Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to you."
*Easter:* Third Sunday	Alternative Opening Prayer	"a people once in darkness has listened to your Word."
*Easter:* Friday of the Sixth Week [where Ascension is celebrated on the 7th Sunday]	Opening Prayer	"that we who receive salvation through your Word may be your children in deed as well as in name."
*Trinity Sunday*	Opening Prayer	"You sent your Wordto bring us truth..."
PROPER of the SAINTS *July 30* *Peter Chrysologus*	Opening Prayer	"Father, you made Peter Chrysologus an outstanding preacher of your incarnate Word."
*August 20* Bernard	Prayer After Communion	"By his example, give us courage, by his teachings, make us wise, so that we too may burn with love for your Word, Jesus Christ."
COMMON of the Blessed Virgin Mary #6 *Advent*	Opening Prayer	"Father, in your plan for our salvation, your Word became man."
VOTIVE MASS #4 of Mary, Mother of the Church	Preface	"She received your Word in the purity of her heart, and, conceiving in her virgin womb, gave birth to our Savior and so nurtured the Church at its very beginning."

Lived/Dwelt Among Us (1:14)

Liturgy/Season	Prayer/Part of Liturgy	Context
PROPER of SEASONS *Advent:* December 23	Opening Prayer	"He was born of the Virgin Mary and came to live among us."
*Christmas:* *Mass at Dawn*	Prayer Over the Gifts	"May we follow the example of your Son who became man and lived among us."
*Christmas:* *Mass during Day*	Opening Prayer	"Let us pray [in the joy of Christmas because the Son of God lives among us].

Prominent Phrases and Images from the Prologue NOT used in Liturgical Texts:

"the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (1:5)
"grace and truth" (1:14)

John the Baptist
(1:19-34)

Lectionary:

Third Sunday of Advent, Year B (#8) -- John 1:6-8, 19-28
Second Sunday of the Year, Year A (#65) -- John 1:29-34
Second Sunday of the Year, Year B (#66) -- John 1:35-42
January 2, Years I and II (#206) -- John 1:19-28
January 3, Years I and II (#207) -- John 1:29-34
January 4, Years I and II (#208) -- John 1:3-42
January 5, Years I and II (#209) -- John 1:43-51

Phrases and Images:

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world" (1:29; 36)

[Contained here are only phrases referring only to "Lamb" with reference to "Lamb of God," "taking away sins" or to John the Baptist. Other references to "Lamb" are plentiful in the Old Testament and in Revelation, and are also found in 1 Corinthians 5:7 and 1 Peter 1:19].

Liturgy/Season	Prayer/Part of Liturgy	Context
ORDER of the MASS	Glory to God	"Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer."
.	The Breaking of the Bread	"Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; grant us peace"
.	Invitation to Communion	"This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are we who are called to share in his supper..."
*Easter:* First Sunday	Preface 21: Easter I	"..when Christ became our Paschal sacrifice. He is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world. By dying, he destroyed death, by rising he restored life."
PROPER of SAINTS: Immaculate Conception	Preface 58: Immaculate Conception	"Purest of virgins, she was to bring forth your Son, the innocent lamb who takes away our sins."
John the Baptist	Preface 61: John the Baptist	"you chose John the Baptist from all the prophets to show the world its redeemer, the lamb* of sacrifice."*
Birth of John the Baptist: Vigil	Prayer After Communion	"May the prayers of John the Baptist lead us to the Lamb of God"
Birth of John the Baptist: Day	Prayer After Communion	"we celebrate the feast of John the Baptist, who foretold the coming of the Lamb of God"

Main Liturgy Page

Previous Page

Next Page

Johannine Homepage