A man became,
having been sent from God,
his name was John,
-this one came as a witness
that is to bear witness to the L ight
so that all people might trust through him.

-That one was not the Light,
but he (came) to witness about the Light.

He was the true Light,
who gives light to everyone,
by his coming into the world.

He was in the world,
and the world through him
became
and the world did not recognise him.

To his own he came,
yet his own people did not receive him.

But to as many received him,
he gave to them
the right to become children of God,
to those who trust in his name.
Those,
not from blood,
not from the will of flesh
not from the will of man
but born from God.

O Lord, in whom is our hope,
remove far from us, we pray thee,
empty hopes and presumptuous confidence.
Make our hearts so right with thy most holy and loving heart,
that hoping in thee we may do good;
until that day when faith and hope
shall be abolished by sight and possession,
and love shall be all in all.

Christina Rossetti (1830-94)