January 2, 2013

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Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Read more about Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

On the ninth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me...nine ladies dancing.

The nine ladies dancing symbolize the fruits of the Holy Spirit.   1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,  6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control.

They symbolize nine ladies dancing because when we become Christians, we join the dance with Our Lord and these are the steps we learn.

Lectionary: 205

Reading 1 from the first letter of St. John

1 Jn 2:22-28

Beloved:
Who is the liar?

St. John is talking about some people who left their company and began to deny that Jesus is the Christ.

Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.

He pointedly calls these people liars.

Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.

I think these two are related.  He is making a logical syllogism.

Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

This is the conclusion of the syllogism.  If one denies the Son, he denies the Father.  But if one accepts the Son, He accepts the Father also.  This is Jesus Teaching:

Luke 10:16
King James Version (KJV)
16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

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.

I think St. John is simply advising Christians to remain in the doctrines they first learned and let no one deceive them:

Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

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.

I believe the anointing is a reference to the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13
King James Version (KJV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

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.

And he admonishes the people to remain in Christ.  Meaning, that they should not begin to commit sins and return to the condition they were in prior to their conversion and renewal in the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 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.

Jesus Christ is the saving power of God.  Christ has been preached throughout the world, by the Catholic Church.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John 

Jn 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John.

St. John the Apostle is here referring to the testimony of St. John the Baptist.  St. John the Apostle was at one time St. John the Baptist's disciple.  Before he met Jesus.  This is why he knows the Baptist's testimony first hand.

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.”

When St. John first came baptizing and preaching repentance, many thought he might be the Christ.  Christ is another word for Messiah or Anointed.  The Jews were at that time awaiting the coming of the prophecied Saviour, the Messiah.

So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”

The Old Testament contained a prophecy which said that Elijah must come before the Messiah.

And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?” 

He answered, “No.”

Nor did he consider himself a Prophet of God.  But he certainly was.

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?”

The Jews wanted to know if he was sent from God.

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.”

Isaiah said:

Isaiah 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

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.

When the Pharisees came to find out who he was, the Baptist prophesied of the coming of Christ.

Sincerely,

De Maria