January 2 - Sts Basil and Gregory Nanzianzen

+ Today we celebrate the feast of two great fourth century Eastern bishops, doctors and saints of the Church: Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzen.

To begin with, Basil the Great’s mother, father and four of his nine siblings were also canonized. As a youth Basil was noted for organizing famine relief, and for working in the kitchens himself, quite unusual for a young noble.

He studied in Constantinople and Athens with his friend the future saint Gregory Nazianzen. He then ran a school of oratory and law in Caesarea. He was so successful as a speaker, he was tempted by pride, which resulted in a decision to sell all he had, giving away the money to the poor and becoming a priest and monk.

Basil founded monasteries and drew up rules for monks living in the desert, and is considered as key to the founding of eastern monasticism as St. Benedict of Nursia was to the west. He became Bishop and then Archbishop of Caesarea, celebrating Mass and preaching to the crowds twice a day. He fought Arianism and was declared a Greek Doctor of the Church as well as Father of the Church.

St. Gregory of Nazianzen was son of St. Gregory of Nazianzen the Elder and Saint Nonna, brother of St. Caesar Nazianzen and St. Gorgonius. He spent a wandering youth in search of leaning. He became a friend of and fellow student with St. Basil the Great. He became a monk at Basil’s desert monastery.

Reluctantly Gregory became a priest, believing himself unworthy. He then assisted his bishop father to prevent an Arian schism in the diocese. He opposed Arianism, and brought its heretical followers back to the fold.

He became first bishop of Caesarea and then later Bishop of Constantinople. He endured much opposition and turmoil in this venue, but he worked tirelessly to ensure the credibility of the true faith. Later he retired to live the rest of his days as a hermit, wrote theological discourses and poetry. He was as well named Father and Doctor of the Church.

The gospel passage today talks about the humble being exalted, and the leader being the servant: these two sentiments certainly apply to our saintly focal points of the day: Basil the Great, and Gregory Nazianzen. They unassumingly went about doing what the Lord asked them to do: to keep some theological and religious law and order in the tumultuous fourth century – and now they are held up as models for us – who live in an equally, if not moreso tumultuous 21^st century.

May we like them hold on to our faith in Jesus Christ, the Divine Word of God, made flesh, and dwelling among us now in his Mystical Body the Church – and help to bring about real positive change in the world in which we live.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.