< <  

Saturday, January 2, 1999

  > >

St. Basil the Great &
St. Gregory Nazianzen


1 John 2:22-28
Psalm 98
John 1:19-28

View Readings
Similar Reflections

truth serum

"Who is the liar?" —1 John 2:22

As we begin the new year, the year of the Father, in preparation for the Great Jubilee in the year 2000, we are asked the question: "Who is the liar?" The answers to this question are:

  • "He who denies that Jesus is the Christ" (1 Jn 2:22).
  • "The Antichrist, denying the Father and the Son" (1 Jn 2:22).
  • "The man who claims, 'I have known Him,' without keeping His commandments" (1 Jn 2:4).

The devil is also a liar (Jn 8:44). But he is more than that. He is "the father of lies" (Jn 8:44). He starts, expands, connects, and manages lies to form a culture of death. Only if we believe in Jesus, the Truth (see Jn 14:6), and thereby reject Satan and all his lying works and promises, will we be free (see Jn 8:32). If, however, we let ourselves be bribed or intimidated into believing Satan's lies, we will be manipulated even into calling God a liar (1 Jn 1:10; 5:10).

To overcome the evil spirit, we need the Holy Spirit, Who is the Truth (1 Jn 5:6). "As His anointing teaches you about all things and is true — free from any lie — remain in Him as that anointing taught you" (1 Jn 2:27). "When He comes...being the Spirit of Truth He will guide you to all truth" (Jn 16:13). Come, Holy Spirit of Truth!

Prayer:  Father, by Your grace I will never "do anything against the Truth, but only for the sake of the Truth" (2 Cor 13:8).

Promise:  "He Himself made us a promise and the promise is no less than this: eternal life." —1 Jn 2:25

Praise:  St. Basil was grandson, son, and brother to other canonized saints.

Reference:  (For related teaching, order our book, The Truth Will Set You Free.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, June 11, 1998


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 20, 1998