MEMORIAL OF SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT AND GREGORY NAZIANZEN BISHOPS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Jan 2
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - 1 Jn 2:22-28
"Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you."
From the Letter according to John
22 [a]Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
24 Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.[b] 25 And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. 26 I write you these things about those who would deceive you. 27 As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.
28 [c]And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 1:19-28
"The one who is coming after me."
✠From the Gospel according to John
19 [a]And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews[b] from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 [c]he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”[d] And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” 23 He said:
“I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert,“Make straight the way of the Lord,”’[e]
as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Some Pharisees[f] were also sent. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water;[g] but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,[h] where John was baptizing.
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT AND GREGORY NAZIANZEN BISHOPS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
Dear people of God,
In today’s Word of God, God reveals to all humanity the true identity of Saint John the Baptist, a forerunner who prepared the way for the Son of God to come into the world to become man.
This forerunner was a very humble and self-effacing person who lived faithfully to God the Father.
God the Father loved, chose, and placed Saint John within His plan.
Saint John the Baptist was God’s great prophet: He lived true to his human nature and true to his role as a prophet, a forerunner preparing the way for the Savior to come into the world.
He did not claim the honor and authority of the Son of God, even when the people highly revered him, greatly admiring his justice and righteousness.
Therefore, some people feared that he would overthrow those in high-ranking, powerful positions at that time — namely, the priests and the scribes who came to inquire whether Saint John was the Messiah, because the righteous and just life of Saint John the Baptist had left a profound impression on the people.
Furthermore, Saint John was a very great prophet of God; he glorified God through his own life and by preaching to make the Son of God stand out.
He did not claim to be a prophet or any specific seer, but humbly and meekly acknowledged himself as: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, a person preparing the way for the Savior to come into the world.”
God also revealed to humanity that Saint John lived a life that was very pleasing to God the Father.
He lived a humble, hidden life so that the Son of God would be highlighted.
He speaks of God: “He who comes after me ranks before me, for He was before me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.”
Saint John’s humility and self-abasement leaves a lesson for everyone and the prophets of today that we must live true to our nature as sinful human beings; do not be not be arrogant or haughty; do not be conceited or self-important, thinking, “I am the knowledgeable one”; do not usurp God's sovereignty: assuming we know everything in this world, for God alone is the One who comprehends all things within humanity.
Therefore, today, God the Father calls upon all humanity to look at and follow the example of Saint John the Baptist's life, knowing to bow down before God the Father and live true to the nature of being God's servant, so that, when the Day of Judgment arrives, the day God will come a second time, He will save both our souls and bodies.
These are the wise words that God bestows to instruct humanity.
Everyone must listen to and put into practice God’s commands: to convert our lives, open our hearts to welcome the Son of God to dwell within our hearts, which is receiving the Holy Eucharist, which God Himself sacrificed, humbled Himself to become man, suffered death, rose again, and remains with humanity until the end of time.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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