Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
One word jumps off the page at me in today’s readings: liar. This is the worst thing that someone could call me. I want to be authentic and have not only my words but my whole life be truthful and trusted. To be called a liar is to have your whole being called into question. John asks us, his beloved, “Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.” (Jn 2:22) John is telling us that we are our most authentic and real selves when we lead lives that reflect the life of Jesus and show others our love for Jesus, the Christ.
As I read this in light of the new year, I am forced to ask myself – “when have I been a liar this past year? When have my thoughts, words or actions been contradictory to Christ’s love?” Sincerely looking back and reviewing my year offers some painful insight into moments where I was a liar - moments when I acted out of my own prideful self-interest, rather than shared Christ’s love. I challenge you to do the same. It is for these moments that we must ask forgiveness and that we must go to the Lord and ask Him to bring growth from, to help us move past.
The true beauty of the new year is that it offers us a chance to grow and to change – a chance to turn the page and start anew. I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions, because I tend to make them too large and unattainable, setting me up for failure. Instead I try to look at my life every new year and reprioritize, to figure out what habits I need to ask God to help me get rid of and which ones I should ask God to help me form. This year, I pray that I may be more truthful, more authentic.
As we see in the Gospel and in John the Baptist himself, sometimes living the truth can be lonely and isolating, sometimes feeling as if you are the lone voice in the desert, but this world needs voices in the desert. We need people calling us to truth and authenticity, calling us back to Christ. I pray that on Dec. 31st, 2014 I can look back over my year and see that it was hard and challenging and joyful and that through all that I experienced I was able to remain in Christ and to prepare a way for the Lord.
Happy New Year!
- Amanda Grimm