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| “Saints Basil and Gregory” Artist and Date UNKNOWN |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: 1 John 2:22-28
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is
the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and
the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son
does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son
has the Father as well.
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.
And this is the promise that
he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things
about those who would deceive you.
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.
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.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 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 either one or the other does not exist 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.
In the selection regarding false teaching there is a definition of
the antichrist as one who denies the Father and the Son. This would seem to
indicate that the Johannine community was being assailed by teachers of false
doctrines. St. John goes on to encourage them to remember that Jesus is the Son
of God, the Anointed One, and that they in turn have been anointed in His name.
There is the implication, although not an explicit definition, of the Holy
Spirit as well: “his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and
not false.”
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1,
2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the
saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous
deeds;
His right hand has won
victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth
have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his
salvation known:
in the sight of the nations
he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his
kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the
earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth
have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD,
all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the
earth have seen the saving power of God.
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Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
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. The Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from
its enemies. Christians see the deeper expression of God’s love, as he sent his
Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.
This is an excellent example of how Christians, heirs to the
Judeo-Christian truth, can see clearly in these ancient texts the references to
the Christ: “The Lord has made his salvation known.” It is this event
about which we “sing joyfully to the Lord.”
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Gospel: John 1:19-28
And this is the testimony of
John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem
sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny
it, but admitted,
“I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you
Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
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?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or
Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you
whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after
me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy
to untie.”
This happened in Bethany
across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
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Commentary on Jn 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 (Isaiah 40:3) 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. Malachi 3:23)
In union with the synoptic Gospels
of Matthew (Matthew 3:11), Mark (Mark 1:7-8), and Luke
(Luke 3:16), John’s
Gospel now relates how the Baptist informed those who question him that there
was one coming after him who was greater than he. The one who follows, the
Messiah, comes with a better baptism. He does not say, as the synoptic Gospels
do, that the Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
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Reflection:
For many of us, today is the
day we go back to the routine interrupted by our anticipation, preparation, and
celebration of the events of a week ago. The Church continues to celebrate the
Nativity of the Lord, holding on to the joy that is the birth of our Lord Jesus
until we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.
While the Church continues
its celebration, we face our work, home, or school with renewed vigor and some
resolutions for the New Year. With any luck, our Advent exercise let us know that
we needed to include some spiritual element with the weight-loss, spend-less,
or save-more resolutions so popular and so difficult to follow through on.
It is rather appropriate that
we are given, on this first day following the great Solemnity of Mary, what
seems to be a Gospel story about the very beginning. St. John the Baptist’s
mission leads us, almost immediately, to the Baptism of the Lord (we will
celebrate that event a week from this Sunday’s Epiphany). With the Baptism of
the Lord, we are launched into Jesus’ formal ministry as an adult. All that we promised
we would do during Advent must be acted upon as we liturgically move through
the winter months. Hopefully, we will
have held true to our promises until we reach our Lenten celebration, where the
snow will melt and new crops will be planted. We are in training, like athletes
before the big game. Let us take pages from the books of the saints like
Gregory and Basil, the two friends whose feast day we celebrate. In their honor we conclude our reflection
today with the concluding prayer for companions in Christ as presented in the
Liturgy of the Hours:
God our Father,
you inspired the Church
with the example and teaching
of your saints Basil and Gregory.
In humility may we come to
know your truth
and put it into action with
faith and love.
Grant this through our Lord
Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. –
Amen
[1]
The icon is “Saints Basil and Gregory” Artist and Date UNKNOWN.
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the
psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is
for private use only.
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