† Quote of the Day "A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." — St. Basil the Great Today's Meditation "Christians long ago concluded that each individual human being has his or her own particular guardian angel. Though the Church has never defined the teaching about individual guardian angels, the Catechism of the Catholic Church sums up the matter this way, quoting St. Basil: 'From infancy to death human life is surrounded by [the angels'] watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life'. In this light, we can turn to our guardian angels for help in spiritual warfare, especially to resist the temptations of the Enemy. Yet angels are more than guardians; they are also warriors." —Paul Thigpen, p. 30
An excerpt from Manual for Spiritual Warfare Daily Verse "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." — Isaiah 40:31 | St. Basil The Great St. Basil (330 – 379 A.D.) was born to wealthy and pious parents in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). His family was renowned for their great sanctity; his grandfather was martyred under the persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian, and his grandmother, mother, and several siblings are all numbered among the saints. St. Basil became a monk and founded several monasteries, famously writing a monastic rule of life which has proved to be the most lasting of those in the East. He studied under the finest teachers and was a respected man of great learning, as well as a zealous defender of orthodoxy against many heresies that threatened the Catholic faith, especially Arianism. He was appointed the bishop of Caesarea and in this role became one of the most influential saints in Church history. His life of deep prayer, austerities, and humility, combined with his uncommon preaching and teaching gifts, guided him in leading one of the most politically and ecclesiastically important Sees of the day, for which he earned the name "the Great." He is a Doctor of the Church, and one of the group of three saints called the Cappadocian Fathers, together with his brother, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and his lifelong friend, St. Gregory of Nazianzus. St. Basil's feast day is celebrated on January 2nd, a shared feast day with his close friend St. Gregory Nazianzus. | Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church • Readings for the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Reading 1 1 John 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 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. Alleluia Hebrews 1:1-2 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In times, past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel John 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.
| Daily Meditation: John 1:19-28 Who are you? (John 1:19) "Who are you?" This question, which the priests and Levites asked John the Baptist, seemed straightforward. After all, John was unlike anyone they had ever seen. He was dressed in camel's hair and fed on locusts and honey, but he still managed to attract people from far and wide to come and repent of their sins and be baptized. Furthermore, they, and all the Jewish people, were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, who they hoped would deliver them from the misery of Roman occupation and liberate them once and for all. So it's no wonder they wondered who he was and what his purpose was. John was clear: "I am not the Christ" (John 1:20). In spite of the crowds that came to receive his baptism, he was honest about who he was—and who he wasn't. But while he wasn't the Messiah they had been waiting for, he did have an essential role in God's plan. Quoting from the Book of Isaiah, he added, "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert" (John 1:23). John was both humble and confident in who God had made him to be. What about you? Do you get hung up on who you're not? Or do you live confidently in who you are—in who God made you to be? You may not be like other people you know. You may feel inadequate when you look at what they have or do. But you are God's beloved child! You are his ambassador in this world! Like John the Baptist, you have a unique role to play in his kingdom—a role that no one else has. But even before you think about your role, remember your identity: you are valued, you are loved, and you are cherished. That's who you are in Christ! Don't let any shortcomings or weaknesses obscure these truths or keep you from fulfilling the role God has for you. God doesn't ask you to be anyone that you aren't. He has made you unique, just as he has made everyone else. He has filled this world with billions of people to serve him in their own unique ways. So be at peace with who you are—with your value, your role, and even your limitations! "Lord, thank you for reminding me of who I am. Help me to live with confidence in the truth of who you made me to be." 1 John 2:22-28
Psalm 98:1-4 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today: "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......" end Gospel quote, word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron,
"Friends, in today's Gospel, John the Baptist declares that he is the forerunner of Christ.
Why, when we first hear of the adult John the Baptist, is he out in the desert and not in the temple, where you would expect the son of a priest to be? Well, in John's time, the temple was mired in very messy politics.
What is drawing people into the desert to see him? He is offering what the temple ought to have been offering but wasn't: the forgiveness of sins. This was the importance of John's baptism.
But here's the odd thing: he did not draw attention to himself. Rather, he presented himself as a forerunner, preparing the way of the Lord: "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize." He was pointing toward the one who would be the definitive Temple.
And therefore how powerful it was when, upon spying Jesus coming to be baptized, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God." No first-century Israelite would have missed the meaning of that: behold the one who has come to be sacrificed. Behold the sacrifice, which will sum up, complete, and perfect the temple..." End quote from Bishop Barron.
From a Spanish reflection,
"Let us reflect on how we respond to the questions and doubts of those who question our faith. John the Baptist responded with courage and confidence in the mission God had given him, undeterred by the unbelief of the religious leaders. It reminds us to stand firm in our faith and testimony, even when we face opposition and discomfort." end quote from Roberto Juárez
The temple Jews would send messengers to Saint John the Baptist to ask him "who are you?" and "what are you?".
It's as if their questions were "who do you think you are?" and "what do you think you are doing out here without our approval?".
Such things have always happened, even to many saints until today.
But they did not stop him from baptizing.
Some even followed him and were probably baptized.
But the next one that would come baptizing, the one St. John spoke about, He would be the one to be rejected.
The one that baptizes with fire from above would be rejected.
The one who would come to forgive sins, would be rejected.
The one who would say He is one with God, would be rejected.
Why?
I want to dare you this year, this new worldly calendar year. I want to challenge you, to do something simple. Simply, quite simply notice what becomes hard to do. That church stuff. Praying more or in a special place, or with someone. Watch which one of these is hard to do.
This is the challenge we meet when we begin to do God's will.
Our Lord was challenged all the way to the cross. And then no more.
The good news is that the cross was the intersection for all of us in His creation, in His baptism.
You are given enough strength to cross, because of His cross.
Now, notice those hard things to do.
Like, stop bickering.
Start a Saturday devotion.
Speak to someone about our Lord in faith.
Do a daily family prayer routine.
Stop by the church daily, and pray quietly, more and more.
Why? What is all of this for?
It is dire. It is crucially needed. The hard stuff, is the stuff that makes for more benefits for the Kingdom of our Lord, and thus, in us all.
If we can make a greater light between us all, the world will be better for it.
If you notice negativity, or your body not willing to pray, then notice, this is good.
Not all prayers are filled with glitz and glamours. Some of the best prayers, are the hardest of prayers, in our bit, to have a more truth faith, love, and trust of God our Father.
Patience actually comes from a root word that means to suffer. Imagine the patience in the passion of our Lord for us all.
Lord, you are the Messiah, our Savior. Let us unite, in Your Kingdom, to do God's will, in a world that God our Father has created for the best of reasons, we will get to know. |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
James 1:13–14 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
