Today we celebrate the feast day of two important early Church fathers who were good friends. Basil the Great was born in Cappadocia in 329. He is most well known for his defense of the faith against the heresy of Arianism. He served as bishop of Caesarea, located in modern-day Turkey. He wrote important works on monasticism, theology, and canon law. He died in 379.
Also born in 329, Gregory of Nazianzen met Basil when they were both studying in Caesarea in Cappadocia. He later became Archbishop of Constantinople. Like Basil, he is known for the defense of the faith against heresies. Both of them were strongly drawn to a monastic life, having spent time as hermits in silence and prayer. Gregory died in 389. Both Gregory and Basil were named Doctors of the Church in 1568 by Pope Pius V, along with St Athanasius and St John Chrysostom. They are not only great examples of scholarship and Church leadership, but also in following lives of holiness and prayer.
Our first reading today is from the first letter of John in the New Testament. The opening of this reading asks a very strongly worded question: “Who is the liar?” This opening question may strike us as rude and provocative, but I think this opening question is posed by John to get the reader’s attention, to show what a travesty it is to deny our faith. A couple of times, it states in the reading the importance of remaining in Christ. For if we remain in him, his truth will remain in us.
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