Readings: Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzen, Memorial

First Reading

First Reading: 1 Jn 2:22-28

Who is the liar?
The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ.
This is an antichrist, who denies both the Father and the Son. The one who denies the Son is without the Father, and those who acknowledge the Son also have the Father.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you, too, will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise he himself gave us: eternal life.

I write this to you thinking of those who try to lead you astray.

You received from him an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you. His anointing teaches you all things, it speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in him, and keep what he has taught you.

And now, my children, live in him, so that when he appears in his glory, we may be confident and not ashamed before him when he comes.

Responsorial Psalm

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1-4

R./ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing to the Lord a new song, 
          for he has done wondrous deeds; 
His right hand has won victory for him, 
          his holy arm. 
R./ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

The Lord has made his salvation known: 
          in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness 
          toward the house of Israel. 
R./ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen 
          the salvation by our God. 
Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; 
          break into song; sing praise. 

R./ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Holy Gospel

Gospel Reading: Jn 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John.  
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him 
          to ask him, "Who are you?" 
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, 
          "I am not the Christ."  
So they asked him, 
          "What are you then? Are you Elijah?"  
And he said, "I am not."  
"Are you the Prophet?" 
He answered, "No."  
So they said to him, 
          "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?  
What do you have to say for yourself?" 
He said: 
                    "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 
                    'Make straight the way of the Lord,' 
          as Isaiah the prophet said."  
Some Pharisees were also sent.  
They asked him, 
          "Why then do you baptize 
          if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"  
John answered them, 
          "I baptize with water; 
          but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, 
          the one who is coming after me, 
          whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."  
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, 
          where John was baptizing.