The Friendship That Bears Witness to Truth

Voice over by Carol San San Lwin

1Jn 2:22-28, Psalm: 97, Jn 1:19-28

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

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, the Church presents us with a powerful icon of orthodox faith and holy friendship. These two saints, bishops and doctors, fought tirelessly against the Arian heresy—the very “lie” St. John condemns in our first reading: the denial that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal Son of the Father.

St. John’s warning is urgent: “Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.” The Arians of the fourth century, and their successors in every age, commit this error, separating Jesus from His divinity. Against this, St. John offers the antidote: “the anointing that you received from him remains in you.” This anointing, the Holy Spirit, is the inner Teacher who guides the Church into all truth. Pope Benedict XVI, reflecting on these saints, noted that “Basil and Gregory dedicated their lives to defending the faith, transmitted by the Apostles and faithfully preserved in the Church.” They were brilliant minds, but their strength came from abiding in the Spirit’s anointing.

In the Gospel, John the Baptist embodies this truth through humble witness. He is not the Christ, not Elijah, not the Prophet. He is simply “the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’” His entire identity is oriented toward Christ. Saints Basil and Gregory lived this same orientation. Their profound theological writings and pastoral labors were not for their own glory, but were a constant, humble pointing to Christ, the true Light.

Their holy friendship was essential to their mission. Their mutual support in times of trial and exile exemplifies the Christian community St. John describes: a fellowship that “remains” in the Son and the Father. St. Gregory himself testified to their bond, writing of Basil: “We seemed to have a single soul in two bodies.” Their friendship was not a closed circle, but a dynamic force that strengthened their witness to the truth.

For our lives today, their witness calls us to:

1. Guard the Truth with Humility: In a world that often denies Christ’s divinity or reduces faith to sentiment, we must, like Basil and Gregory, hold fast to the fullness of the Creed. We do this not with arrogance, but with the humility of John the Baptist, knowing the truth is a gift, not our possession.
2. Cultivate Holy Friendships: Our faith is not lived in isolation. We need brothers and sisters who, like these two saints, encourage us in virtue, correct us with charity, and help us abide in Christ. Such friendships become a powerful witness to the world.
3. Abide in the Anointing: Trust the Holy Spirit received in your Baptism and Confirmation. Through prayer, Scripture, and the Sacraments, remain in intimate communion with Christ. It is this abiding relationship—this “anointing”—that protects us from the lies of the world and enables us to be a clear voice pointing to the Lord.

May the prayers and example of Saints Basil and Gregory Nazianzen strengthen us to be steadfast in truth and ardent in charity, always bearing witness to the Light who is Christ. Amen.