Memorial of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory
Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church
Biographical Information about St. Basil the Great[1]
Biographical Information about St. Gregory Nazianzen[2]
Readings for the Day, January 2 Year II [3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 John 2:22-28
The first paragraph of this reading from St. John’s first epistle is important in that it clearly establishes the sameness of essence in God the Father and God the Son. Anyone who denies one denies both and anyone who teaches that neither exists is a “False Teacher.”
St. John continues encouraging his followers to remain faithful to what they were taught about the Father and the Son. In doing so they open the door to Eternal Life, in doing so they may stand with confidence before the Son when he returns on the last day.
Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalm rejoices in God’s salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people and they sing his praises in response. As the Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies, we see the deeper expression of God’s love as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.”
Gospel John 1:19-28
This is the formal introduction to St. John’s Gospel. In it the author addresses the question of St. John the Baptist’s role in God’s plan. The Jews from Jerusalem (Priests and Levites from the Temple) ask the Baptist who he is. It is John’s humility or perhaps his own lack of understanding that he does not even admit to being a prophet (although the language did say “The Prophet, most likely Moses). In one breath he denies the title and in the very next he quotes the Prophet Isaiah as being one sent to herald the coming of the Messiah. (It is almost certain that given the Baptist’s appearance and demeanor, some of the Jews from Jerusalem were convinced he was Elijah whose coming was thought to be the sign that the Messiah was at hand.)
In union with the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke; John’s Gospel now relates the Baptist telling those who question him that there is one coming after him who is greater than he. The one who follows comes with a better baptism. He does not say, as the synoptic Gospels do that the Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Reflection:
After our formal introduction to St. John the Baptist during the Advent season, the Gospel today feels like a gentle reminder. Placed within the Christmas season, between the Feast of the Nativity and Epiphany, the reference seems to remind us that many people have predicted the coming of the Messiah and pointed to that event we just celebrated as the seminal event affecting the whole human race.
We love the character of the Baptist as one of these principle heralds of salvation. He has that unique blend of fire and zeal coupled with a questing nature that does not pretend some great foreknowledge. He knows the Messiah is coming. He has accepted his mantle as the “voice crying out in the wilderness” which was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. His zeal and conviction are made clear in other parts of Holy Scripture.
We recall his address to the Scribes and Pharisees (the story of this same incident from Matthew 3:1-12) where he called them a “pack of vipers.” He did not know the full truth yet, but he knew that what was being taught by the religious leadership was not right. He saw the injustice of what these false teachers were doing and expected the Messiah to come and remove them from power with a wave of his hand.
We know he did not completely understand that it was his cousin, Jesus, who was the Messiah. While he was imprisoned by Herod (the whole “calling the queen an adulterous woman” thing) he sent his disciples to Jesus and asked if he was “the one “(Matthew 11:2-11). He expected the “Royal Messiah” to come and lift up the whole Jewish people, throwing off the yoke of the Romans and the Temple bringing a new Davidic dynasty to the region. He did not get it quite right but he, never the less, gave his life for the Christ and for the Gospel.
It is that zeal for God we look at and admire. St. John the Baptist was much like us. He knew that God called him to do something but did not completely understand what that something was. He accepted the call and did what he felt called to do. He did not care that some people thought he was demented (dressing in odd clothes and eating odd (disgusting) things). He let the Holy Spirit flow through him, even though it made him enemies with the people in power, both the secular leaders (Herod) and the religious leaders (Scribes and Pharisees).
His call, we now see, was to proclaim the Lord’s coming and in doing so make others ready to accept Him when He came. In that respect he actually failed, but not for lack of trying. He failed because it was meant to be so from the beginning of God’s plan. Other prophets predicted it. Even Isaiah, with whom St. John was intimately familiar said so in the “Suffering Servant” oracle.
It is that same call that comes to us, to “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Though our words and actions we, like St. John the Baptist, are called to prepare those with whom we have contact to accept the Messiah when he comes; whether that be in the form of meeting Him on the Last Day or accepting the Holy Spirit when they encounter Christ.
As most of us return to our routines on this day let us, perhaps as one of your New Year’s Resolutions, commit to taking up the mission of St. John the Baptist this year and being the instrument of knowledge of the Lord for others. May the saints intercede for us and the Holy Spirit give us strength to be that example of faith and zeal for the Lord.
Pax
[1] The first picture is “Mass of St. Basil” by Pierre Subleyras, 1743
[2] The second picture is an icon of “Gregory the Theologian” from a fresco from Kariye Camii, Istanbul. Artist and date UNKNOWN
[3] After Links to Readings Expire
Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church
Biographical Information about St. Basil the Great[1]
Biographical Information about St. Gregory Nazianzen[2]
Readings for the Day, January 2 Year II [3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 John 2:22-28
The first paragraph of this reading from St. John’s first epistle is important in that it clearly establishes the sameness of essence in God the Father and God the Son. Anyone who denies one denies both and anyone who teaches that neither exists is a “False Teacher.”
St. John continues encouraging his followers to remain faithful to what they were taught about the Father and the Son. In doing so they open the door to Eternal Life, in doing so they may stand with confidence before the Son when he returns on the last day.
Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalm rejoices in God’s salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people and they sing his praises in response. As the Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies, we see the deeper expression of God’s love as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.”
Gospel John 1:19-28
This is the formal introduction to St. John’s Gospel. In it the author addresses the question of St. John the Baptist’s role in God’s plan. The Jews from Jerusalem (Priests and Levites from the Temple) ask the Baptist who he is. It is John’s humility or perhaps his own lack of understanding that he does not even admit to being a prophet (although the language did say “The Prophet, most likely Moses). In one breath he denies the title and in the very next he quotes the Prophet Isaiah as being one sent to herald the coming of the Messiah. (It is almost certain that given the Baptist’s appearance and demeanor, some of the Jews from Jerusalem were convinced he was Elijah whose coming was thought to be the sign that the Messiah was at hand.)
In union with the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke; John’s Gospel now relates the Baptist telling those who question him that there is one coming after him who is greater than he. The one who follows comes with a better baptism. He does not say, as the synoptic Gospels do that the Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Reflection:
After our formal introduction to St. John the Baptist during the Advent season, the Gospel today feels like a gentle reminder. Placed within the Christmas season, between the Feast of the Nativity and Epiphany, the reference seems to remind us that many people have predicted the coming of the Messiah and pointed to that event we just celebrated as the seminal event affecting the whole human race.
We love the character of the Baptist as one of these principle heralds of salvation. He has that unique blend of fire and zeal coupled with a questing nature that does not pretend some great foreknowledge. He knows the Messiah is coming. He has accepted his mantle as the “voice crying out in the wilderness” which was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. His zeal and conviction are made clear in other parts of Holy Scripture.
We recall his address to the Scribes and Pharisees (the story of this same incident from Matthew 3:1-12) where he called them a “pack of vipers.” He did not know the full truth yet, but he knew that what was being taught by the religious leadership was not right. He saw the injustice of what these false teachers were doing and expected the Messiah to come and remove them from power with a wave of his hand.
We know he did not completely understand that it was his cousin, Jesus, who was the Messiah. While he was imprisoned by Herod (the whole “calling the queen an adulterous woman” thing) he sent his disciples to Jesus and asked if he was “the one “(Matthew 11:2-11). He expected the “Royal Messiah” to come and lift up the whole Jewish people, throwing off the yoke of the Romans and the Temple bringing a new Davidic dynasty to the region. He did not get it quite right but he, never the less, gave his life for the Christ and for the Gospel.
It is that zeal for God we look at and admire. St. John the Baptist was much like us. He knew that God called him to do something but did not completely understand what that something was. He accepted the call and did what he felt called to do. He did not care that some people thought he was demented (dressing in odd clothes and eating odd (disgusting) things). He let the Holy Spirit flow through him, even though it made him enemies with the people in power, both the secular leaders (Herod) and the religious leaders (Scribes and Pharisees).
His call, we now see, was to proclaim the Lord’s coming and in doing so make others ready to accept Him when He came. In that respect he actually failed, but not for lack of trying. He failed because it was meant to be so from the beginning of God’s plan. Other prophets predicted it. Even Isaiah, with whom St. John was intimately familiar said so in the “Suffering Servant” oracle.
It is that same call that comes to us, to “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Though our words and actions we, like St. John the Baptist, are called to prepare those with whom we have contact to accept the Messiah when he comes; whether that be in the form of meeting Him on the Last Day or accepting the Holy Spirit when they encounter Christ.
As most of us return to our routines on this day let us, perhaps as one of your New Year’s Resolutions, commit to taking up the mission of St. John the Baptist this year and being the instrument of knowledge of the Lord for others. May the saints intercede for us and the Holy Spirit give us strength to be that example of faith and zeal for the Lord.
Pax
[1] The first picture is “Mass of St. Basil” by Pierre Subleyras, 1743
[2] The second picture is an icon of “Gregory the Theologian” from a fresco from Kariye Camii, Istanbul. Artist and date UNKNOWN
[3] After Links to Readings Expire
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