DECEMBER 07, 2018 : MEMORIAL OF SAINT AMBROSE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 179

Reading 1IS 29:17-24

Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

Responsorial PsalmPS 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
"Son of David, have pity on us!" 
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
"Do you believe that I can do this?" 
"Yes, Lord," they said to him. 
Then he touched their eyes and said,
"Let it be done for you according to your faith." 
And their eyes were opened. 
Jesus warned them sternly,
"See that no one knows about this." 
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

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Meditation: "Do you believe?"

 Are there any blind-spots in your life that keep you from recognizing God's power and mercy? When two blind men heard that Jesus was passing their way, they followed him and begged for his mercy. The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another person's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further; it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in another person's misfortune and suffering as if it were their own. 

God shows mercy to those who recognize their need for his forgiveness and healing
When two blind men approached Jesus, he questioned their earnestness. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus put them to the test, not to rebuff them, but to strengthen their faith and trust in God's mercy. He touched their eyes, both to identify with their affliction and to awaken faith in them. Their faith grew as they responded to his word with confident hope. Jesus restored their sight - both physically and spiritually to the reality of God's kingdom. Faith opens the way for us to see the power of God’s kingdom and to experience his healing presence in our lives.

In Jesus we see the fullness of God's mercy and the power of his kingdom - power to save from death and destruction, to forgive sins and lift the burden of guilt, and to heal infirmities and release the oppressed. Jesus never refused to bring God's mercy to those who earnestly sought it. How can we seek and obtain God's mercy? God gives mercy to the lowly in heart - to those who recognize their need for God and for his forgiveness and healing power.

God transforms those who put their hope and trust in him
God wants to change and transform our lives to set us free to live as his sons and daughters and citizens of his kingdom. Faith is key to this transformation. How can we grow in faith? Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love. For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience - an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. The Lord Jesus wants us to live in the confident expectation that he will fulfill his promises to us and bring us into the fullness of his kingdom - a kingdom of  righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Do you know the peace and joy of God's kingdom?

"Lord Jesus, help me to draw near to you with faith and trust in your saving power and mercy. Free me from doubt and unbelief that I may approach you confidently and pray boldly with expectant faith. Let your kingdom come and may your will be done in me."

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: They saw because they believed in the Messiah, by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD)

"At that point, two blind men follow the Lord as he was passing by. But if they could not see, how could the blind men know of the Lord's departure as well as his name? Moreover, they called him 'Son of David' and asked to be made well. In the two blind men, the entire earlier prefiguration [miracles in Matthew 9:18-26] is complete. The ruler's daughter seems to be from these people, namely, the Pharisees and John’s disciples, who already made common cause in testing the Lord. To these unknowing persons the law gave evidence as to the one from whom they sought a cure. It indicated to them that their Savior in the flesh was of the line of David. It also introduced light to the minds of those who were blind from past sins. They could not see Christ but were told about him. The Lord showed them that faith should not be expected as a result of health but health should be expected because of faith. The blind men saw because they believed; they did not believe because they saw. From this we understand that what is requested must be predicated on faith and that faith must not be exercised because of what has been obtained. If they should believe, he offers them sight. And he charges the believers to be silent, for it was exclusively the task of the apostles to preach." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 9.9) 

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, MATTHEW 9:27-31
(Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27)

KEY VERSE: "Let it be done for you according to your faith" (v. 29).
TO KNOW: The prophet Isaiah reviled Jerusalem for their blindness to God's revelation (29:9-11). In the gospels, the faith of those who were physically blind is contrasted with those who were blind spiritually to God's revelation in Jesus. In this incident, two blind men cried out to Jesus for healing, calling him by the Messianic title "Son of David." Jesus asked, "Do you believe that I can do this?" (v. 28). The blind men responded with belief in Jesus’ healing power. Jesus cured them, and then warned them not to tell others as they might misunderstand his mission as mere "wonder-working." In their enthusiasm, the men could not restrain themselves from speaking of this astounding miracle.
TO LOVE: Does the busyness of Advent make me blind to Jesus' presence in my life?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me the faith to call to you when I am in need.

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church

In the Fourth Century, the bishop of Milan died and a dispute over his replacement led to violence. Ambrose, Governor of Milan, intervened to calm both sides. He impressed everyone so much that, although still an unbaptized catechumen, he was chosen to fill the office of bishop. Ambrose resisted, claiming that he was not worthy, but to prevent further unrest, he assented. On 7 December 374 he was baptized, ordained a priest, and consecrated as bishop. As an example to his flock, he immediately gave away his wealth to the Church to help the poor. Ambrose was a preacher, teacher, bible student of renown, and writer of liturgical hymns. His preaching helped convert Saint Augustine of Hippo whom Ambrose baptized and brought into the Church. Ambrose's preaching also convinced Emperor Theodosius to do public penance for his sins. Ambrose called and chaired several theological councils during his time as bishop, many devoted to fighting heresy. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Latin Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1298. The title "Honey Tongued Doctor" was bestowed on him because of his speaking and preaching ability. ​

http://www.togetherwithgodsword.com

Friday 7 December 2018

St Ambrose.
Isaiah 29:17-24. Psalm 26(27):1, 4, 13-14. Matthew 9:27-31.
The Lord is my light and my salvation – Psalm 26(27):1, 4, 13-14.

‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’

The first reading from Isaiah speaks of hope and transformation, a world where the deaf will hear, the blind will see, those who err in spirit will come to understanding. The psalm also speaks of a promise of joy, beauty and God’s goodness for those of us in the land of the living. The gospel shows us the fulfilment of these promises as Jesus heals the two blind men, telling them the healing is done according to their own faith.

In what ways do I choose to shut my eyes, block my ears and close my mind? Do I have a faith that leads to healing, clarity and courage for others and for myself? Am I moving towards fullness of life?

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Saint Ambrose

Saint of the Day for December 7

(337 – April 4, 397)

 

Statue of Saint Ambrose | Luigi Scorzini | photo by G.dallorto

Saint Ambrose’s Story

One of Ambrose’s biographers observed that at the Last Judgment, people would still be divided between those who admired Ambrose and those who heartily disliked him. He emerges as the man of action who cut a furrow through the lives of his contemporaries. Even royal personages were numbered among those who were to suffer crushing divine punishments for standing in Ambrose’s way.

When the Empress Justina attempted to wrest two basilicas from Ambrose’s Catholics and give them to the Arians, he dared the eunuchs of the court to execute him. His own people rallied behind him in the face of imperial troops. In the midst of riots, he both spurred and calmed his people with bewitching new hymns set to exciting Eastern melodies.

In his disputes with the Emperor Auxentius, he coined the principle: “The emperor is in the Church, not above the Church.” He publicly admonished Emperor Theodosius for the massacre of 7,000 innocent people. The emperor did public penance for his crime. This was Ambrose, the fighter sent to Milan as Roman governor, and chosen while yet a catechumen to be the people’s bishop.

There is yet another side of Ambrose—one which influenced Augustine of Hippo, whom Ambrose converted. Ambrose was a passionate little man with a high forehead, a long melancholy face, and great eyes. We can picture him as a frail figure clasping the codex of sacred Scripture. This was the Ambrose of aristocratic heritage and learning.

Augustine found the oratory of Ambrose less soothing and entertaining but far more learned than that of other contemporaries. Ambrose’s sermons were often modeled on Cicero, and his ideas betrayed the influence of contemporary thinkers and philosophers. He had no scruples in borrowing at length from pagan authors. He gloried in the pulpit in his ability to parade his spoils—“gold of the Egyptians”—taken over from the pagan philosophers.

His sermons, his writings, and his personal life reveal him as an otherworldly man involved in the great issues of his day. Humanity for Ambrose was, above all, spirit. In order to think rightly of God and the human soul, the closest thing to God, no material reality at all was to be dwelt upon. He was an enthusiastic champion of consecrated virginity.

The influence of Ambrose on Augustine will always be open for discussion. The Confessions reveal some manly, brusque encounters between Ambrose and Augustine, but there can be no doubt of Augustine’s profound esteem for the learned bishop.

Neither is there any doubt that Saint Monica loved Ambrose as an angel of God who uprooted her son from his former ways and led him to his convictions about Christ. It was Ambrose, after all, who placed his hands on the shoulders of the naked Augustine as he descended into the baptismal fountain to put on Christ.

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Reflection

Ambrose exemplifies for us the truly catholic character of Christianity. He is a man steeped in the learning, law, and culture of the ancients and of his contemporaries. Yet, in the midst of active involvement in this world, this thought runs through Ambrose’s life and preaching: The hidden meaning of the Scriptures calls our spirit to rise to another world.

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Saint Ambrose is the Patron Saint of:

Bee keepers
Beggars
Learning
Milan

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LECTIO DIVINA: MATTHEW 9:27-31

Lectio Divina: 

 Friday, December 7, 2018

1st Week of Advent

1) OPENING PRAYER

Lord God, Father of all,
in Your Son Jesus Christ
You invite everyone and all to know and love You
and to live in Your unending peace.
Keep alive in us the zeal
to bring the light of Your truth
and the riches of Your life and love to all,
without any distinction
of race, language or culture.
May everyone on earth come to know You
as the merciful Father of all
through our brother and Savior,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

2) GOSPEL READING - MATTHEW 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!" When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

3) REFLECTION

Once again, today’s Gospel places before us the encounter of Jesus with human misery. Jesus does not withdraw. He does not hide. He accepts others and in accepting them, full of tenderness, He reveals God’s love.
• Two blind men follow Jesus and cry out to Him, “Son of David, have pity on us!”. Jesus did not much like the title of Son of David.  He criticizes the teaching of the scribes who said that the Messiah should be the Son of David: “David himself calls Him Lord: How then can He be his son?” (Mk 12:37).
• Reaching home, Jesus asks the blind men, “Do you believe that I can do this?” And they answer: “Yes, Lord!” It is one thing to have true doctrine in the head, and a very different thing to have correct faith in the heart. The doctrine of the two blind men was not too right, because they called Jesus Son of David. But Jesus does not care to be called this. What is important to Him is to have a correct faith.
• He touches the eyes and says, “May it be done to you according to your faith!” Immediately the eyes were opened. Although they did not possess correct doctrine, the two blind men had correct faith. Today many people are more concerned about  correct doctrine than about correct faith.
• It is good not to forget a small detail of hospitality. Jesus reaches the house and the two blind men also enter the house, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. They feel at ease in Jesus’ house.  And how about today? A religious Sister said, “Today the situation of the world is such that I feel mistrustful even toward the poor!” The situation has changed very much from then to now!
• Jesus asks them not to speak about the miracle. But the prohibition was not respected very much. Both of them went out and spread the Good News. To proclaim the Gospel, that is, the Good News, means to share with others the good which God does in our life.

4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS

• Do I have in my life some Good News from God to share with others?
•  On which point do I insist more: on correct doctrine or on correct faith?

•  How is it possible to separate doctrine and faith in practice?

5) CONCLUDING PRAYER

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (Ps 27)

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