Isn't the Word still God?

[FrankPFingado]

Dear Catholic Apologists,
The first chapter of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to St. John states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him…” Is it purely semantics, or am i imagining that the Word WAS God - but isn’t any longer? If the Word is God, shouldn’t the author of the Gospel of John state that the Word IS God* (instead of WAS God)? And, the Word isn’t any longer with God? (And the Word WAS with God - instead of ‘the Word IS with God’)). Did the Word fall away? Please explain what the author meant by “Word”. Thank you!
*My understanding, at this very moment, is that God always was, is, and will be. In our profession of Faith recited every (day) Sunday at mass:
“I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS WERE MADE.” Is it that when Jesus came down, he was “no longer with God” - even though he IS God (2nd person of the Holy trinity)?
Thank you, again, for explaining!
Frank F.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi Frank,

You seem to have not noticed that St. John is speaking of the beginning. “In the beginning WAS the Word.” He’s talking of what happened in the past. This in no way means that the Word in not currently, God.

It’s amazing how important it is to get our tenses straight.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.