1st Week of Advent, Saturday, Dec 7; Saint Ambrose
Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 / Matthew 9:35 - 10:1, 6-8
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How strongly do we believe God's Word in today's reading, when he says that he will answer us when we cry out to him? “The reality of prayer can be proved only by praying.” Sherwood Eddy
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God is compassionate. He cannot let his people suffer. This compassion of God has become visible in the person of Christ.
The Old Testament text, perhaps an elaboration on Isaiah’s thoughts by a later author, promises restoration to God’s people after their conversion. God will take pity on his people. He promises freedom from evil, sickness, famine, violence, and injustice, provided that people will realize their own poverty and inability to live as they should by their own powers. God will work these things in people and with people.
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To believe in God is certainly a comfort and a consolation. To know that God loves us and cares for us and will protect us from dangers is certainly very comforting. To know that God is merciful and compassionate and that He will forgive us our sins is indeed very consoling. But we must also accept the lessons that God wants to teach us if we had gone wrong or gone astray.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Isaiah knew that as much as God will forgive, yet God will also teach His people how to walk faithfully in His ways. The prophet says in the 1st reading: God will be gracious to you when He hears your cry, when He hears, He will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, He who is your teacher will hide no longer.
In the gospel, we see the effects of sin on the people - diseases and sicknesses, harassment and dejection, as well as poverty and injustice. Jesus came to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom by curing all kinds of diseases and sicknesses and to teaching the truth of life and love. Let us walk in the ways of the Lord and follow Jesus on the path of salvation.
And if we experience suffering and hardships, let us believe that God is teaching us something and it will always be for our good. That is comforting and consoling enough for us to keep our faith in God.
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In the New Testament, Jesus will go out to encounter us and to help us out. He sends out his Church, even today, to encounter people in their miseries and to alleviate all suffering.
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Prayer
God of mercy and compassion, in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed yourself as a God of people. Turn our empty hearts to you, give us eyes to see the depth of our poverty and our inability to build a better world with our own resources, and then come and build it with us through your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
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Saint Ambrose (c. 340-397)
Feast Day December 7
Have you ever been asked to do something you weren’t sure you could do? This happened to Saint Ambrose.
The new bishop of Milan was to be elected by the people. Ambrose, who was governor, attended the election for two reasons. He knew there might be disagreements and felt responsible for keeping the peace. Since Ambrose was preparing for Baptism, he was also interested in who would be bishop. During the election, fighting broke out. No one could agree on who the bishop should be. Ambrose stood and pleaded for peace in the assembly. During his speech a voice cried out, “Ambrose for bishop!” Ambrose was shocked. The crowd took up the cry, shouting, “Ambrose for bishop!” Ambrose begged them not to elect him, but he could not silence them. Over the next several months, Ambrose was baptized, ordained, and consecrated bishop.
Ambrose was well prepared for the office of bishop. He came from a wealthy Roman family. His father was a chief officer in the Roman military. Not only had Ambrose received the finest education in Rome, he had been raised in a good Christian household. His sister became a nun. Ambrose had followed in his father’s footsteps when he entered political life. In 370 he became governor, with his headquarters in Milan, Italy. Ambrose administered strict and fair justice. He was a courageous leader. He was also strong in his Christian faith and prepared to be baptized as an adult.
After his election as bishop, Ambrose turned his attention from political government to church government. Immediately he gave a share of his family's money to the poor and encouraged others to do so. He simplified the bishop’s household and freed the place of expensive finery. He took a firm stand in controversial matters of Church and state. When conflicts arose with the ruling family, Ambrose told the people, “The emperor is in the Church, not above it.” Even the rulers must obey the laws of God.
On more than one occasion, Empress Justina sent soldiers to force Ambrose to go along with her wishes. Ambrose had to defend his cathedral against attack, but the people stood by their bishop, and the army had to back down.
Later Emperor Theodosius, to get revenge for the murder of several officers, had a town of 7,000 people destroyed. Ambrose warned Theodosius that he would be excommunicated if he did not do public penance. People were astounded that Ambrose would do this. They were speechless when Theodosius knelt at Ambrose’s feet, humbly accepting forgiveness.
