Texts: Wisdom of Solomon 7:15-22
Matthew 5:13-19
On this second day of a new calendar year, the
Church invites us (through the Lectionary) to reflect on the life of a giant of
the faith, St. Basil the Great. We are
invited to draw wisdom from his struggles and triumphs. Our readings today,
from the book of Wisdom and the Gospel according to Matthew, offer us a lens
through which to view his extraordinary life. Wisdom 7:15-22 speaks of the gift
of wisdom, a spirit that is “intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle,
mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen,
irresistible.” It is a spirit that permeates all things, a “breath of the power
of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty.” And in Matthew
5:13-19, Jesus calls his followers to be salt and light to the world, upholding
the law and teaching others to do likewise. These readings, when placed
alongside the life of Basil, illuminate the path of faithful discipleship, particularly
in the face of theological controversy.
We also live in a time of great theological controversy, as the church
battles over issues of human sexuality, the nature of Christ, the authority of
Bishops and Popes, and much more.
Basil lived in a time when the very nature of God
was being fiercely debated. The Arian controversy, named after a man called
Arius who questioned the full divinity of Christ, threatened to tear the Church
apart. Arius and his followers argued that Jesus was a created being,
subordinate to God the Father. This challenged the core of Christian belief:
the Incarnation, the belief that God became human in Jesus Christ. Basil, along
with other great theologians like Athanasius and Gregory of Nazianzus, stood
firm in defense of the Nicene Creed, which affirmed that Jesus Christ is “God
from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one
Being with the Father.”
To understand Basil’s impact, we must place him
within his historical context. Born in Caesarea in Cappadocia (modern-day
Turkey) around 330 AD, Basil came from a devout and influential Christian
family. Basil received an excellent education, studying in Caesarea,
Constantinople, and Athens, where he befriended Gregory of Nazianzus. He
excelled in rhetoric, philosophy, and astronomy, becoming a highly respected
scholar. After a period of asceticism and travel through Egypt, Syria, and
Palestine, studying monastic communities, Basil was ordained a priest in 365 AD
and later became Bishop of Caesarea in 370 AD. This was a tumultuous time for
the Church, with the Arian controversy raging. Basil's intellectual prowess,
combined with his deep faith and administrative skills, made him a key figure
in defending orthodox Christianity.
Basil’s engagement in this debate wasn't simply an
intellectual exercise. It was a matter of life and death, of eternal
consequence. He recognized that the question of Christ’s divinity was not a
mere technicality, but went to the heart of salvation. If Jesus was not truly
God, then how could he bridge the gap between humanity and divinity? How could
he offer true reconciliation and redemption? Basil, imbued with the wisdom
described in our reading from Wisdom, tirelessly defended the truth of the
Gospel. He wrote extensively, preached powerfully, and worked tirelessly to
reconcile those who had been led astray by Arian teachings. He was a beacon of
light in a time of darkness, salt preserving the true faith from corruption.
The Arian controversy serves as a powerful example
of how Christians throughout history have wrestled with the profound mysteries
of the Incarnation. It demonstrates that the search for truth is not always
easy or straightforward. It often involves difficult conversations, passionate
disagreements, and a willingness to re-examine our own assumptions. The wisdom
described in Wisdom is not static; it is mobile, keen, and irresistible. It
compels us to seek deeper understanding, to grapple with complex questions, and
to be open to new insights.
As Progressive Christians, we inherit this legacy of
grappling with the great questions of faith. We acknowledge that our
understanding of God is always evolving, always deepening. We recognize that
the Bible, while divinely inspired, is also a product of its time and culture.
We believe that the Holy Spirit continues to guide us into all truth, even
today. This means that we must be willing to engage with new information, new
perspectives, and new interpretations of scripture. We must be open to
modifying our beliefs in light of new evidence and better arguments. This does
not mean abandoning the core tenets of our faith, but rather embracing a
dynamic and living faith that is constantly being renewed.
Just as Basil and his contemporaries were willing to
challenge prevailing assumptions about the nature of God, so too must we be
willing to question our own assumptions. We must be willing to have difficult
conversations about issues that divide us, such as gender equality, LGBTQ+
inclusion, and social justice. We must be willing to listen to the voices of
those who have been marginalized and oppressed. And we must be willing to
change our minds when we are presented with compelling evidence.
This willingness to change, to adapt, to grow in
wisdom, is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. It is a testament to
the power of the Holy Spirit working within us, leading us into all Truth. It
is a reflection of the wisdom described in our reading from Wisdom, a wisdom
that is “loving the good, keen, irresistible.” It is a way of being salt and
light to the world, as Jesus calls us to be in our reading from Matthew.
So, dear friends, as we stand at the threshold of a
new year, 2025, can we commit ourselves to this path of growing wisdom? Can we embrace
the spirit of inquiry, the spirit of humility, and the spirit of love that
characterized the life of Basil the Great? Can we be open to new understandings of God,
new ways of being Church, and new ways of serving the world? I pray that this new year will be a time of
deepening faith, growing understanding, and greater love for all who call
themselves followers of Christ. May we all be blessed with the wisdom to
discern truth, the courage to speak it, and the love to live it. Amen.
