“Who are you?” was a question posited to John the Baptist in the Gospel today. Many of the Jews of Jesus’ time were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, and when they heard John preaching with such gravitas and in the prophetic style, they asked him “Who are you?”
“Who are you?” was certainly a question in the forefront of everyone’s mind when they met Jesus, when they saw him performing miracles, teaching in the synagogue with authority, driving money changers out of the Temple, confounding the scribes and Pharisees.
Jesus even asked his own disciples the question: “Who do you say that I am?”
During the Christmas season, I think every man, woman, and child is challenged to answer the question: who is Jesus? Who is this child born of the Virgin? “What Child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?”
How we answer that question determines the course of our life. Was Jesus really God in the flesh? Was he just another baby born into poverty? I think many people today question if Jesus was real at all, believing that he is just another character from myth like Zeus, Apollo, or Hercules.
Division in the Church arose in the 4th century over Jesus’ identity. When, the Arian Christians denied that Jesus was consubstantial with the Father, denying the fullness of Jesus’ divinity, saints, like St. Basil and St. Gregory, whom we honor today defended the Apostolic teaching and that of the early Church councils, using the philosophical language of the day.
For us, the faithful, to engage our own culture with similar clarity, is extremely important. We are to assist the confused, those who have been deceived by the errors of the world, those who mock the faith, those who do not take Jesus’ identity seriously, the family members who don’t think skipping mass is that big of a deal.
We are to engage the spirit of the anti-christ, as St. John called it in our first reading, by proclaiming the truth of Jesus clearly, passionately, patiently, consistent with the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic faith.
Saints Basil and Gregory came to such clear conviction through a life of prayer and study. They studied the scriptures, they studied the Church fathers, and they prayerful sought the Lord in silence and contemplation.
Through prayer, study, the intercession of the saints, and the help of God’s grace may we, as St. John says, “remain in Christ, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming,” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus, and that our Bishops and Priests might have the courage to proclaim the truth amidst the errors of the world.
That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.
For the healing of families divided by sin and selfishness, for a strengthening of all marriages, that young people may be formed to have deep and authentic faith.
For those oppressed by hunger, sickness, addiction, or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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