Today we celebrate the feast of two eastern saints: Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen - both were boyhood friends, and both were bishops and doctors of the Church.
Basil came from a holy family to say the least. Both his father and mother were later named saints: St. Basil the Elder, and St. Emmelia. Several of his 9 brothers and sisters were honored among the saints as well. He attended school in Caesarea, as well as Constantinople and Athens where he became acquainted with St. Gregory Nazianzen in 352. A little later, he opened a school of oratory in Caesarea and practiced law. Eventually he decided to become a monk and found a monastery in Pontus which he directed for five years. He wrote a famous monastic rule which has proved the most lasting of those in the East. This rule also influenced St. Benedict of Nursia, who became Patriarch of Monasticism in the West. Later, he became bishop of Caesarea, where he became a man of vast learning and constant activity, genuine eloquence and immense charity. This earned for him the title of “Great” during his life and Doctor of the Church after his death. Basil was one of the giants of the early Church.
St. Gregory of Nazianus was the son of the bishop of Nazianus, in Cappadocia. Under his father's influence he became a priest. He was drawn to the ascetic life and it was in retreating to monastic life that he met Basil the Great. He later became bishop of Constantinople. He was a very learned man, gifted in oratory. His “Five Theological Orations” earned him the title “Theologus - Theologian”!
Both of these great men of Church history were motivated by the desire to live out their true vocations: as assigned by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. They give witness to the fact that when we discern what it is that God is calling us to, he also helps us to live out what it entails! Our first reading today from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us that all of our vocations have one goal: to build up the body of Christ: if what we perceive to be our vocation is not building up our brothers and sisters in some way, and leading them to God, then we are not tuned in to true, valid and real vocation! We all have a part to play in each others’ lives! We are all here to help each other out in one way or another!
The gospel passage reminds us that no matter what titles or honors we might receive in this life: all the glory, all the praise, all the honor goes to God. For there is only one Father, there is only one Master, there is only one Teacher - and that is God. The fatherhood, leadership position and teaching positions that we are involved in only participates in his! It is up to us to redirect the credit and give God all that is his due!
With the Lord as our shepherd, with the Lord providing shepherds for us (like Basil and Gregory), we can be assured that we will truly have all that we need to live every moment of our lives!
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