SERMON/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY (STS. BASIL THE GREAT & GREGORY NAZIANZEN) 2ND JANUARY 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY (STS. BASIL THE GREAT & GREGORY NAZIANZEN) 2ND JANUARY 2024

1John 2:22-28; Ps.96; John 1:19-28

Jesus is the Christ

Usually, in writing an academic work, it is always necessary to clarify terminologies; not just for readers to understand the meaning of such terms but that they may understand the context in which such terms are employed in the work. When terms are properly clarified, it becomes easy to understand the mind of the writer.

This is what John did for the mission of Christ in today’s reading. In both the first and the gospel readings, John is busy clarifying who the messiah is, so that we are not confuse as to who saves us. In the gospel reading, he emphatically stated that he is not the messiah. The Pharisees sent priests and Levites to John to ask if he was the messiah. This is because they could perceive the greatness of his ministry. John said that he is not; meaning that his prophetic acts, however great they may be, are not what saves or will save the people.

His prophetic acts are not comparable with that of Christ. His baptism of repentance is such that prepares the people for the Messiah. When the messiah comes, he will eventually save his people. My dear, no matter how much God gives you the opportunity to direct the lives of others, never make the mistake of thinking that you “have the final say” in their lives.

The recognition of the Messiah was obviously not complete even at the end of Christ’s earthly mission. The challenge in not recognizing Jesus as the Christ is that it prevents one from abiding in Christ’s word. Without recognizing Christ, we will not be accepting him as our Lord and Saviour. So, in the first reading of today, John emphatically stated that anyone who has not accepted Jesus as the Christ is a liar.

This acceptance goes beyond the matter of belonging to the Christian sect; it is more about the conviction with which we live our lives. It is this conviction that we laud today in the lives of Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. Both saints committed their intellects into propagating the faith and defending it against heresies.

You cannot really serve someone whom you do not love. Our time, treasure and talent will only be put at the service of God if we sincerely love him from our hearts.