HOMILY OF SATURDAY 2ND OF JANUARY 2021
Ss BASIL THE GREAT & GREGORY NAZIANZEN Be,Ds ( MEMORIAL)
(Both Basil and Gregory were born in As I Minor around the year 330. They became close friends and studied together in Athens. Their friendship continued throughout their life, even when they became important theologians and later became bishops with heavy responsibilities. Both were outstanding not only in their breadth knowledge , but most especially in spiritual matters. Among others things, Basil wrote a monastic rule that is still followed in the East.) Daily Missal.
R1:- 1John 2:22-28
PS:- 98:1.2-3a.3-4
Accl:- Hebrew 1 1-2
Gospel:- John 1-9-28
We often fail or are not fulfilled in some of our choices in life simply because we love living on borrowed robes. We must that the glory of the star is different from the glory of the moon. Failure to realize this has made many ambitious people to enter into the shoes of others without asking whether it suites them or not.
Interestingly, John the Baptist refused to claim the exalted position of Elijah or of the Christ. When he was asked who he was, he simply said, ” I am the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, ‘ Make straight the way of the Lord. ‘ ” He further answered the Priests and Levite’s who were questioning him, ” I baptise with water, but among you stands whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
When we blindly occupy the position of others, we are indirectly deny them. Those who know Christ but deny his place in their life are simply against him. They can be termed as an Antichrist described in our today’s first reading. “Beloved: who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he denies the Father and the Son.” John 2: 22.
In their own time, Basil and Gregory joined the fight against the heresy that denies the divinity of Christ. Their wealth of knowledge shed light on the place of Christ place of Christ in our life and in the world.
John the baptist remains a good example of humility. Imitating his virtue, we are called to occupy our God-given space in life. It is delicate to seek to be like others. Graces differ. We may achieve what others achieved, we may be doing what others are doing, what really matters is whether are moving in the direction of our ultimate fulfilment or not. Accidental gratification can only serve us for the moment.
Therefore as we enter the new year, let us seek the face of God to show us our unique path in life so as fulfilled exactly his plans for us.
May we posses the humility that will produce in us fruits of eternal redemption. May our lives always be that of preparing the way for the unfolding of the will of God in the world. Amen.
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