Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen
John 1:19-28
Imitating Saint John the Baptist, Courageously Bearing Witness to Christ

We often, just like John (cf. Jn 1:19-25), need to testify about what we have said or what we have seen. Sometimes, we also, like John, need to testify on behalf of others, to confirm that everything they have done is entirely true.

Why do we need to testify? Is it because everything we do is incomprehensible to others? Or will the world believe our testimony? If we harbour such doubts, we are like the timid person spoken of by the prophet Isaiah (cf. Is 35:4), because we dare not bear witness to Christ.

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of two saints, St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, who faithfully and without reservation spoke to the world all that they hear in the Church, and with their own actions bore witness to the Word of God they proclaimed. Similarly, we too must imitate their virtues, bearing witness to Christ throughout our lives, so that the world, by contemplating the work of redemption begun by God in us, may together with us receive the same baptism of Christ, be given the same Holy Spirit, share in the same cup of blessing, the same broken bread, and be united together in the Body and Blood of Christ, becoming one in Him.

St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us to God. Amen.

©Totus Tuus 2025
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025