Virtue: Community
Resolution: I choose to journey with other believers to participate in the mission of God.

Human Story: St. Basil (330 – 379)

St. Basil the Great was born to a prominent Christian family in Caesarea Mazaca of Cappadocia.  His grandmother, father, mother, and four of his nine siblings would all become saints of the church. He was raised around deeply spiritual and very wealthy individuals. His father was a lawyer and member of the Roman aristocracy. After following in his father’s footsteps by studying law, he returned home to pursue a career as a teacher of rhetoric.

This trajectory, however, would not last long because soon after returning to Cappadocia, he was baptized. He described his experience:

Much time had I spent in vanity, and had wasted nearly all my youth in the vain labor which I underwent in acquiring the wisdom made foolish by God. Then once upon a time, like a man roused from deep sleep, I turned my eyes to the marvelous light of the truth of the Gospel, and I perceived the uselessness of “the wisdom of the princes of this world, who come to naught.” … Then I read the Gospel, and I saw there that a great means of reaching perfection was the selling of one’s goods, sharing them with the poor, giving up all care for this life, and the refusal to allow the soul to be turned by any sympathy to things of earth.

He traveled to visit some of the monastic movements that were developing in different parts of the world— Palestine, Syria, and Egypt. He then returned to family property in Annesi where his mother and sister had set up a convent as a place of solitude and prayer. Basil joined them in these endeavors. When he would go out into the cities, he could not help but notice the difference between the peace of Annesi and the chaos of the cities. His biographer says,

Although Annesi was an isolated and peaceful place, the world outside was in a period of profound social and theological upheaval. Economic factors such as heavy taxation of the lower classes… and the increasing concentration of land in the hands of wealthy absentee landlords were sharpening the distinctions between rich and poor.

This disparity caused another significant turning point in Basil’s life. He decided to bring his monastic principles back into community to attempt to bring inner peace. Soon after he was ordained a priest and began serving a local parish, a famine struck Caesarea. This tragedy finally caused Basil to find his voice, and he became an advocate for social justice in the church. Basil formed the “Basiliad,” a place for those experiencing hunger or sickness to receive care. He was a master fundraiser, convincing his wealthy Christian friends to invest in the project for the poor and sick. Many historians regard this endeavor as the first true “clinic” or health care center.

Basil believed that the church should live together in community with one another, not allowing any to suffer as long as there were means to provide a solution. May the church today learn from the passion of Basil and be bold in vision and dedication to live in true community with our neighbors, especially those who are suffering.

Lesson: Luke 10:25-28

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

This passage was one Basil often quoted. He particularly felt drawn to the part “love your neighbor as yourself.” Basil called this part of the verse, “the mother of the commandments.”1 He firmly believed that if your neighbor had less than you, then it was your responsibility to sacrifice your own abundance for that person. If you were hungry, you would want someone to provide food for you. If you were thirsty because of drought, you would want someone to provide water. For Basil, this commandment became his vision of the kingdom on earth. This led him to give away his fortune and build his Basiliad so that people could survive the famine. He believed deeply in community, resulting in his radical care for others.

Sometimes, it seems that the modern-day church can take the sting out of challenging Biblical passages. This watering down of Christ’s teachings hinders our participation in full community with others. We, at times, re-interpret scriptures like loving your neighbor as yourself in order to temper the impact it could have on our lives. Basil was able to remove the tendency to lessen the weight of scripture, and he allowed it to be felt full force in his life. This ability to take seriously the challenges presented in scripture led him to a life of care for others, especially those who had been left out of community or those who were suffering.  

Reference: 1 In Times of Famine and Drought, 7

Remembrance

The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need. Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong. -   Saint Basil

Challenge

• Read again Basil’s quote in the remembrance section. What do you have that could be someone else’s provision?

• St. Basil was very good at asking his friends to engage with those who were suffering in their community. He rallied massive support for his clinic called the Basiliad. This week find a non-profit in your community that is doing work for those who are suffering and make a financial donation. If you can’t make a donation, ask if there is a way to volunteer.

• Ask a friend to participate in the above challenge with you.

• Do some research on St. Basil and the Basiliad to see if you are inspired in any further ways by his story.

Reflection

Are there certain areas of your life where you are too comfortable? Where could you care more for others? Do you truly love your neighbor as self? These are all very challenging questions to consider this week.

Further Growth

2021: Book of Common Prayer Proper 28

Old Testament: Daniel 12:1-13
Psalm: Psalm 16
New Testament: Hebrews 10:31-39
Gospel: Mark 13:14-23

2020: Book of Common Prayer Proper 27

Old Testament: Amos 5:18-24
Psalm: Psalm 70
New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13