St. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, bishops  & doctors 

*** 1st Reading ***

1 John 2:22-28

Who is the liar?

The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. This is an antichrist, who denies both the Father and the Son. The one who denies the Son is without the Father, and those who acknowledge the Son also have the Father.

 Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you, too, will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise he himself gave us: eternal life.

 I write this to you thinking of those who try to lead you astray. You received from him an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you. His anointing teaches you all things, it speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in him, and keep what he has taught you.

 And now, my children, live in him, so that when he appears in his glory, we may be confident and not ashamed before him when he comes.

 

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

**** Gospel ****

John 1:19-28

This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” John recognized the truth and did not deny it. He said, “I am not the Messiah.”

 And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us.

How do you see yourself?” And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.” Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question to John: “Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” 

John answered, “I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.”  This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

 

Gospel Reflection

If we could answer truthfully the question, “Who are you?” like John, we will spare ourselves with many heartaches that come from false knowledge of the self like desires and ambitions that spring from our bloated self-concept.

We are able to concentrate on our core strengths and avoid our weaknesses. With clarity of the self comes great possibilities. We can do great things no matter what role we are called to play.

It’s not to be at the center of things that matters but doing your part conscientiously and faithfully. John whom no other man born of a woman could surpass was great because he knew his rightful place in the greater scheme of God.