January 2, 2023 Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily January 2, 2023
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
John 1:19-28
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010224.cfm

Our Voice.

If someone walks up to us and says, “What is your name? We respond by giving them our name. Not John the Baptist. He didn’t say, “I am John, son of Elizabeth and Zechariah.” Nor did he claim to be the One who was coming who would usher in the end times, namely, the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet.

He says he is a “voice” crying in the wilderness. This tells us so much if we are paying attention. A voice is here one second and gone the next, but the words, or Word of God, remain. John will do nothing to draw attention to himself and is only the “voice” of the Word.

Please, God, we will have the same grace to defer attention from ourselves to the One Who is to come whenever we call upon him and serve him, especially in the least of his family.

Gospel Challenge:
We find our true identity, who we are in Christ Jesus, through serving Jesus in all whom we meet. Think about who you will be meeting today, starting with family. Ask John the Baptist to help you be the voice, the hands, the feet who bring the Good News of Jesus to all you meet today.

Love Your Neighbor:
Please join me in praying for all baptized Catholics to be faithful to Jesus in the Holy Mass every weekend. Hail Mary, full of grace…
Mother Mary, “I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you, I always want to belong completely to Jesus.” The Surrender Novena – InHeartland. https://inheartland.com/pages/the-surrender-novena

Peace be with you.

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.
pastor
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