Think
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Readings: 1 John 2:22-28; Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 1:19-28
Know Yourself in Truth
Polonius was right. A person really needs to know and own himself (spiritual people call this self-possessed). Being calm and level headed can only come about if you understand your motivations and methods cross referenced to your affect attitude. Our actions flow from within us. They are a window into the soul.
Today we celebrate the memorial of two men who seeking the truth was paramount, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, at the cost of great suffering, slander, insults, and even personal violence (see https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-gregory-nazianzen/)
Who is the liar?
Our first reading today asks the question, Who is the Liar?
So many and varied heresies abounded in and around the early Church. The most important thing to remember is that heresies are deviations from and by degree undermine the gospel. Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the Antichrist. This portion from 1st John is not about people outside of the faith. This observation is particular to those who are baptized in Christ but denying Christ anyway.
But knowing who you are in truth allows someone to place the self and ego aside.
They asked John: “Who are you?”
Who are you?
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
Are you Elijah?
Are you the Prophet?
No and no.
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.”
John was self-possessed.
Self-possession begins with full acceptance of what is. It requires us to lay out the facts of our history without attaching to how things “should” have been, and to regard the facts of our present without attaching to what “should” be now. (See: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/staying-sane-inside-insanity/202108/why-self-acceptance-leads-self-possession/)
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking (CT) is a mainstay for knowing thy self. Training in CT reinforces techniques and strategies to not fall into logical fallacies, confirmation bias and the over-use of intuitive thinking in regards to things we are uncomfortable with or newly exposed to.
Here is an article to the 15 biggest logical fallacies: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/rhetorical-devices/logical-fallacies/
It is imperative that Christians walk carefully with the gospel. It is both powerful and fragile (to turn a phrase). How we use the gospel and how it is accepted within the body of believers really does matter. The critical part isn’t if you understand theology, have great training, or even a Doctor of the Church. Before all this, know yourself. We are not the center of the universe. We are not the sole possessors of truth and right as individuals.
We are people on a journey of choosing good and rejecting evil – in ourselves first and foremost.
[About Gregory Nazianzen] Returning to Nissa, he devoted himself above all to writing, and left a copious collection of spiritual verses. “Everything is hard for mortals,” he wrote, “everything is ridicule, shadow, appearance – and that everything should be unstable, O Word, which hast created us, we owe to Thy wisdom, that we might learn to turn our love to that which is stable and firm.”
Personal Reflection
Being honest with yourself is difficult, especially in a world filled with people operating at a base level of humanity. Being honest allows for truth to flourish within us and out pours to the world as a healing balm. Finally, being self-possessed allows us to think clearly about difficulties and pathways forward. Consistently operating at a level of intuition and instinct without the maturing effects of critical thinking is deadly.
John knew who he was and who he was not. Ditto, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. Jesus then is known and can be known. I am on the same journey as you: learn to turn our love to that which is stable and firm.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010225.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry