Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 01-02-04, Memorial, Sts Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 01-02-04 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

January 2, 2004
Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church

Psalm: Friday 3 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
1 Jn 2:22-28

Beloved:
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.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 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.

Gospel
Jn 1:19-28

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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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.

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FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Basil the Great was born around the year 329 and is known as
the father or Eastern monasticism. He was pursuing a prosperous
career as a teacher when God intervened and showed Basil his call
to a different life. Basil felt called to the religious life but he found the
existing modes of religious life lacking in certain areas. Gregory
started the first monastery in Asia Minor with a small community of
followers.

In addition to helping form monasticism, Basil had great impact on
other areas of the Church. After his ordination to the priesthood, he
assisted the bishop of Caesarea in the governing of his diocese.
Basil later became bishop of this diocese and was instrumental in the
battle against Arianism. Even though Basil became involved in many
disputes with the believers of Arianism, he always served as the
example of a pastor. He loved his flock and continually delivered
speeches and writings to instruct, and encourage the faithful. Basil
died around the year 379.


St. Gregory was born around the year 329 and was baptized at the
age of thirty. He was one of the first followers of St. Basil to join him
in the monastery. Gregory was content to live in the monastery and
follow a monastic rule, but he was forced to leave this life to assist
his father who was a bishop. Gregory was ordained to the priesthood
and began to actively work against Arianism. After serving as an
auxiliary bishop of Caesarea, Gregory was sent to Constantinople to
serve as bishop.

As bishop of Constantinople, Gregory was forced to help re-teach
the Faith in an area that had been ravaged by Arianism. Gregory
started his reform on the grass roots levels teaching the common
people about the Trinity and other aspects of the Faith. Gregory
spent much of his public life seeking solitude and austerity and for
his writings he is also known as "the Theologian."


QUOTE OF THE DAY

The bread which you use is the bread of the hungry; the garment
hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the
shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the
acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that
you commit. -St. Basil


TODAY IN HISTORY

533 John II begins his reign as Pope
1788 Georgia is 4th state to ratify US constitution


TODAY'S TIDBIT

On the eighth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, eight
maids a-milking.
The eight maids milking represent the eight beatitudes listed in Mt
5:3-10. These are listed in a different manner in Lk 6:20-23.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray that all people may work to better incorporate the virtues
highlighted in the Beatitudes in their lives.

[Salvation]

Origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" [Underground Catechism]

Journeying with the Magi

[Salvation]

Sorry about messing up the date yesterday. Noticed that while I was on vacation, my fingers typed 10 and then the date, rather than 12 for December.

Forgive please?

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Advent and Christmas Reflections for All -- 2003 -- ##83 and 84

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Thought for the Day

What made you establish man in so great a dignity? Certainly the incalculable love by which you have looked on your creature in yourself! You are taken with love for her; for by love indeed you created her, by love you have given her a being capable of tasting your eternal Good.

 -- St. Catherine of Siena, Dialogue IV

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Friday, January 02, 2004 Meditation 1 John 2:22-28 John had been with Jesus from the very beginning. He stayed with him for a full three years and even stood at the foot of the cross when he died. How did he manage to stay so faithful? Because he took to heart Jesus’ teaching to abide in him as he would abide in his followers (John 15:1-11). John believed that by remaining in Jesus he would be able to bear much fruit in the kingdom of God. In the years after the death of Jesus, John must have pondered Jesus’ words over and over again. He must have recalled and studied the Hebrew Scriptures as well and written down all that he remembered. And so, over time, Jesus’ teaching about abiding in him became a reality as John prayed, studied, and experimented with different ways to imitate him. As the early Christian communities grew, they began to experience a clash of cultures between the philosophies of the world and Jesus’ teachings. How should young believers deal with the perennial problems of love of the world, lust of the flesh, and pride of life (1 John 2:12-17)? In his letter, St. John used all he had learned over the years to encourage his community to abide (remain) in Christ: “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (2:24). He exhorted them to remember that the Holy Spirit had been poured out precisely to teach them and to help them to overcome the obstacles they were facing (2:27). So it is with us today. We are bombarded with worldly ideas, our own cravings of the flesh, and Satan’s evil schemes. Who will save us? Jesus Christ, our Lord! Every day, we can fill our minds with the words of Scripture. Every day, we can seek his presence in prayer. Every day, we can practice the art of abiding in Christ. Jesus promised he would never leave us; all we need to do is let him guide our thoughts and actions. If we do, we will have confidence. We will be convinced that he has overcome the world and that we can overcome it as well, because we abide in Christ and he abides in us. “Jesus, I want to abide in your presence all through my day. Help me to rest in your word. Teach me through the Scriptures how to live a life of love and gratitude.”

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

<< Friday, January 2, 2004 >>

St. Basil the Great & St. Gregory Nazianzen

1 John 2:22-28

Psalm 98

John 1:19-28

View Readings

WHO ARE YOU?

“The testimony John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, ‘Who are you?’...” —John 1:19   

It is very important for us to know our identity, that is, who we are. For if we don’t know who we are, we don’t know why we are, what we are to do, or who others are. Because it is so important to know our identity, the Lord reveals our identity to us. We know who we are because of Him. We are who we are because of Him. Who we are is who we are in Him.

Because it is so important to know our identity, Satan uses people to lie to us about our identity. These liars deny the identity of Jesus as God and thereby deny our identity in Him. These liars tell us we can create our own identity, as if we could create ourselves. Consequently, we must know who the liar is (see 1 Jn 2:22) in order to hold onto our faith in Christ’s identity and thereby have the basis for knowing who we truly are in Him.

As we continue the Christmas celebration of Christ’s birth and as we begin a new year, let us totally give our lives to Jesus. In that total commitment, we paradoxically lose ourselves to find ourselves (Lk 9:24). In knowing our identity, we know what life is about so that we can live the new year freely and fully for Jesus.

Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to confirm me in my identity as Your child.

Promise: “He Himself made us a promise and the promise is no less than this: eternal life.” —1 Jn 2:25

Praise: Sts. Basil and Gregory studied together, became monks together, and became bishops together. Both of them have a mother, father, and brother who are each canonized saints. Praise You, Jesus, for the community of saints!

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Do You Know Who You Aren't?
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Friday, January 2, 2004

1 Jn 2:22-28 / Jn 1:19-28

One of the most foolish mistakes any of us can make is to believe our own press releases. Taking ourselves too seriously is a fatal error that is made so often that we have to conclude that it's been bred into the human race. It was the mistake that Adam and Eve made in the garden, when they were only too ready to let the snake persuade them that they could become God's equal. What a farce, and yet we see it recurring in our own time and in our own lives every day.

In today's gospel, John the Baptist provide a refreshing respite from the usual self inflation. When messengers from the authorities in Jerusalem asked him in all seriousness if he were the messiah, or the great Elijah, or the Prophet, John had to be flattered and tempted at the very least to make some tantalizing delphic response such as, "In time all things will be made clear," or "You'll be surprised." But he did none of that. Instead, his response was a clear "no" to all the questions. "I am only the voice in the desert, crying out: 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'"

What a perfect example for us all: To know who we are and what is our own unique vocation from God; to delight in answering that call as fully and enthusiastically as we can; and to ask for nothing more and pretend to nothing more. It is the truth that will set us free. Embrace the truth and let your heart soar.

 

 

[Barnacle]

Bump.

[Salvation]

thanks, Barnacle.

[NYer]

Today is also the birthday of St. Therese of Lisieux.

[fatima]

Salvation,Mass bump,Thank you.

[Salvation]

Hi, fatima. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

[fatima]

Very beautiful,had you and this thread with me in prayers and all lurkers.