Bright Saturday; The Holy Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasia.
Acts 3:11-16; John 3:22-33.
Read John 3:22-33
St. John the Baptist humbly declares, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This brief statement captures the essence of Christian discipleship: the call to empty ourselves so that Christ may reign more fully within us. True greatness lies not in self-exaltation, but in surrendering our pride, ambition, and self-will to the One who is the source of all life.
As St. Augustine teaches, “The lessening of John is the growth of Christ. He must grow in you, you must decrease in yourself” (Sermon 293). In our spiritual journey, we must actively make space for Christ by renouncing selfish desires and cultivating humility. It is only through this self-emptying that Christ’s love, truth, and light can fully take root in our hearts.
St. Cyril of Alexandria exhorts us, “We are perfected by our union with Christ, when we set aside the old man and are renewed by the Spirit” (Commentary on John, Book II). To increase Christ’s presence means to continuously conform our thoughts, actions, and desires to His will. Prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, acts of charity, and meditation on Scripture are the fertile soil wherein Christ’s life within us can flourish. \
St. John the Baptist’s example invites us daily to ask: where must I decrease so that Christ may increase? As we strive to echo his humility, we too prepare the way for the Lord, not only within ourselves, but in the lives of all those we encounter.