January 2, 2021

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctors of the Church, and best friends

John 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.

Preachers: Tim and Ann Cain