The Three Holy and Great Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. Holy Priest-Martyr Hippolytus (235).
All-Night Vigil Feast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
Hebrews 13:7-16. Matthew 5:14-19.
Read Matthew 5:14-19
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Today’s gospel is chosen for today’s feast, honouring three great lights of the Church – Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. Each of these men, in different ways, had to put the words of this gospel into practice: a city in a hill cannot be hid, and we should not put a lamp under a basket, but let its light shine for all to see. All three men desired to live a monastic life, yet all three had to give that wish up in order to fulfil a call to serve Christians in the biggest cities in the Roman Empire.
This willingness to leave solitude behind (and, we should note, the desire for monastic solitude is a good thing) and accept ordination as bishops also allowed them to put the second part of today’s gospel into practice, by interpreting the commands of God in a way that the Christian people could understand and put into practice in their lives. This is perhaps a twofold summary of the vocation of clergy, and, to varying degrees, of other Christians: to accept responsibility for sharing the Christian faith, and then to know enough about it to explain that faith to those who need to hear about it.
Basil, Gregory, and John all put this principle into practice in their lives, and the Church was better for it. Am I willing to follow their example? It may mean a greater commitment to the Church – but certainly, it will mean a willingness to witness to what I believe, so that others can know the love of Christ as I do.