Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 2, 2020
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”
And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”
This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Who are you? In the Gospel, the priests and Levites question John the Baptist, pestering him about his identity. John does not answer with his job title or family ties. He answers, “I am the voice.” Read aloud during Sunday Mass, his answer does not seem too far-fetched, but take a minute to consider the question in the context of our lives today.
Who are you?
For many, this simple question evokes complicated answers. For me, answers such as “engineer,” “brother to two sisters,” and “Notre Dame graduate” would suffice. Often, day-to-day tasks, family responsibilities, and milestone accomplishments define how we view ourselves and others. Material possessions, business card titles, and even number of Twitter followers can become so important to us that we limit our own identities to these characterizations.
Who are you?
John’s answer reminds us that we are all children of God. We are called to “make straight the way of the Lord” within our families, in our workplaces, and in our hearts. Answering this call is not always easy. It takes time and may seem burdensome, just as it was difficult for John to explain what God had planned for him. Unlike John, we may not be blessed with the wisdom to know how God will call on us, but we are all blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. We must try to share this Spirit with those around us to prepare for the return of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
Who are you?
God challenges us to find our calling and spread the good news. How will we answer?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you sent John the Baptist as the forerunner who prepared the way for the Lord. Help us prepare our world to recognize Christ through our worship, our acts of charity, and our fidelity to the Gospel. Strengthen the witness of our lives so that we might lead others to Christ. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Sts. Basil and Gregory were childhood friends who both came from saintly families. They grew up to defend the Trinity and Jesus’ divinity at a crucial time in the development of the Church’s understanding of these mysteries.
Basil was born in 330 as one of 10 children to a noble family in what is now Turkey. Both of his parents were saints (St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia) and four of his siblings became saints as well. Even his grandmother was a saint!
As a young man, Basil was known for organizing food relief for those suffering from famine, and would even set aside his rank to work in the kitchen. He was well-educated, and he opened a school and practiced as a lawyer. He became famous for his rhetorical skills but was tempted by pride because of the attention his orations drew. He responded by selling all he owned to become a priest and monk.
He founded a monastery and wrote down instructions on community life, which have become famous and especially important in guiding religious communities in the east. He continued to found monasteries and was ordained bishop of Caesarea (in modern Israel) in 370, where he led for seven years until his death. He was very active in his leadership and was known for his eloquence, wisdom, and sincere love of others.
From his youth, Basil was friends with Gregory of Nazianzus, another brilliant thinker and orator. Gregory also had saintly parents (St. Gregory the Elder and St. Nonna), and two of his siblings also became saints.
Gregory followed a similar career path as Basil—he was ordained a priest, even though he yearned for the life of a monk. He was ordained a bishop by his friend, Basil, and made important contributions in the way the Church understands God, especially the mystery of the Trinity.
Basil and Gregory were defining figures as the early Church sought to figure out just how to describe Jesus as fully human and fully divine. They helped the Church articulate this mystery and refute persistent strains of thought that would emphasize one aspect of Jesus’ nature over another. Both were largely responsible for safeguarding the faith that has guided the Church for hundreds of years. Their doctrinal contributions are codified in the Nicene Creed we recite at Mass.
Both Basil and Gregory were declared doctors of the Church, a title given to 37 saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example. Their relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, and their images are captured in stained glass windows there.
Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, friends and scholars who defended the faith—pray for us!