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| "Saint John the Baptist and the Pharisees" -- by James Tissot |
Memorial
of Saints Basil
the Great and Gregory
Nazianzen, Bishops, Fathers of the
Church, and Doctors of the Church
FIRST
READING: 1 John
2: 22 - 28
22
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is
the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
23
No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son
has the Father also.
24
Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard
from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and
in the Father.
25
And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.
26
I write this to you about those who would deceive you;
27
but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you
have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches
you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has
taught you, abide in him.
28
And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we
may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
PSALM:
Psalms 98:
1 - 4
1
O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His
right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2
The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication
in the sight of the nations.
3
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of
Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into
joyous song and sing praises!
GOSPEL:
John 1:
19 - 28
19
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
20
He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the
Christ."
21
And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said,
"I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he
answered, "No."
22
They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for
those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23
He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make
straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
24
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
25
They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither
the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
26
John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands
one whom you do not know,
27
even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy
to untie."
28
This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was
baptizing.
