What do I have to #say for myself on this Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, as I reflect on the harmonious growth fostered within the family—where we learn gratitude, forgiveness, and self-control—as well as on “On Care for Our Common Home,” the addition of our new Livestock Guardian Dog named Coco, and the insights shared by one of our seminarians on CAPN: “The WTC: The Podcast,” Episode 000
Gospel
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.
Reflection
The family is often the first place where we learn how to speak not only with our words but with our hearts. It is where we are taught to say “thank you” as a genuine expression of gratitude and “please” as a respectful request rather than a demand. As I reflect on the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, I am reminded that their lives spoke volumes about their faith. They did not merely say they believed; they lived it. Their actions challenge me to consider how I say “thank you” to God each day for the countless blessings He has bestowed on me.
In reflecting on “On Care for Our Common Home,” I’m struck by how the Earth also speaks to us—through its beauty and through the damage inflicted upon it by human hands. When creation cries out in distress, what do I say in response❓ Do I join the chorus of those advocating for care and restoration, or do I remain silent, complicit in the harm being done❓ Saints Basil and Gregory remind me that silence in the face of wrongdoing is its own form of speech, one that says I am indifferent.
Adding Coco, our new Livestock Guardian Dog, to the family has brought me back to the simplicity of life and the unspoken bond we share with animals. Coco doesn’t say anything in words, but her presence is a reminder of how God’s creatures teach us responsibility, care, and humility. What does my treatment of animals and the environment say about my respect for God’s creation❓ It is in these daily interactions that my faith finds practical expression.
Enlightenment is what I was going to say
4:23
they say there is no goal it’s just live
18:56
of making me hesitant to say yes to
20:46
and I know you want to say thank you
22:53
what advice would you have for let’s say
One of our seminarians, featured on CAPN: “The WTC: The Podcast,” Episode 000, reflects deeply on what it means to answer God’s call authentically. His words challenge me to think about the depth of my own responses to God. What do I say when faced with the opportunities and responsibilities He places before me❓ Am I honest, humble, and willing to follow His path, or do I say things that sound good but lack conviction❓
Saints Basil and Gregory lived lives that answered the Gospel’s call to integrity, courage, and love. Their example asks me to turn inward and examine my own life. Am I living in such a way that my words align with my actions, and my faith aligns with my heart❓ If I were asked today by the Lord,
In the family we receive an integral education, which enables us to grow harmoniously in personal maturity. In the family we learn to ask without demanding, to say “thank you” as an expression of genuine gratitude for what we have been given, to control our aggressivity and greed, and to ask forgiveness when we have caused harm.
FROM PARAGRAPH 213 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME