Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 181
Lectionary: 181
The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals lurk
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there,
nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make,
and on it the redeemed will walk.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals lurk
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there,
nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make,
and on it the redeemed will walk.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
Responsorial PsalmPS 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (Isaiah 35:4f) Our God will come to save us!
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Our God will come to save us!
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Our God will come to save us!
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Our God will come to save us!
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Our God will come to save us!
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Our God will come to save us!
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Our God will come to save us!
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold the king will come, the Lord of the earth,
and he himself will lift the yoke of our captivity.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold the king will come, the Lord of the earth,
and he himself will lift the yoke of our captivity.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 5:17-26
One day as Jesus was teaching,
Pharisees and teachers of the law,
who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem,
were sitting there,
and the power of the Lord was with him for healing.
And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;
they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.
But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof
and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles
into the middle in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
“As for you, your sins are forgiven.”
Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves,
“Who is this who speaks blasphemies?
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply,
“What are you thinking in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he said to the one who was paralyzed,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on,
and went home, glorifying God.
Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,
and, struck with awe, they said,
“We have seen incredible things today.”
Pharisees and teachers of the law,
who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem,
were sitting there,
and the power of the Lord was with him for healing.
And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;
they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.
But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof
and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles
into the middle in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
“As for you, your sins are forgiven.”
Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves,
“Who is this who speaks blasphemies?
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply,
“What are you thinking in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he said to the one who was paralyzed,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on,
and went home, glorifying God.
Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,
and, struck with awe, they said,
“We have seen incredible things today.”
Meditation: "Your God will come and save you'"
Is there anything in your life that keeps you from receiving the
blessings of God's kingdom? The prophets foretold that when the Messiah came to
usher in God's kingdom the blind would see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk
(Isaiah 35:5-6). Jesus not only brought physical healing, but healing of mind,
heart, and soul as well. Jesus came to bring us the abundant life of God's
kingdom (John 10:10). But that new life and transformation can be stifled by
unbelief, indifference, and sinful pride. Sin cripples us far more than any physical
ailment can. Sin is the work of the kingdom of darkness and it holds us in
eternal bondage. There is only one solution and that is the healing, cleansing
power of Jesus' forgiveness.
Jesus' treatment of sinners upset the religious teachers of the
day. When a cripple was brought to Jesus because of the faith of his friends,
Jesus did the unthinkable. He first forgave the man his sins. The scribes
regarded this as blasphemy because they understood that only God had authority
to forgive sins and to unbind a man or woman from their burden of guilt. Jesus
claimed an authority which only God could rightfully give. Jesus not only
proved that his authority came from God, he showed the great power of God's
redeeming love and mercy by healing the cripple of his physical ailment. This
man had been crippled not only physically, but spiritually as well. Jesus freed
him from his burden of guilt and restored his body as well. The Lord is ever
ready to bring us healing of body, mind, and soul. His grace brings us freedom
from the power of sin and from bondage to harmful desires and addictions. Do
you allow anything to keep you from Jesus' healing power?
"Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you
bring healing and restoration to body, soul, and mind. May your healing power
and love touch every area of my life - my innermost thoughts, feelings,
attitudes, and memories. Pardon my offences and transform me in the power of
your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth and
righteousness."
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, LUKE
5:17-26
(Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85)
(Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85)
KEY VERSE: "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home" (v 24).
TO KNOW: The religious leaders confronted Jesus because they feared that he was not following their rigid interpretation of the law. Luke contrasted their suspicion with the faith of some men who came to Jesus out of concern for their paralyzed friend. When the men were unable to get through the crowd, they climbed the outside stairway of the house where Jesus was teaching, and removed some tiles from the roof. Then they lowered the invalid through the hole they had made down to the feet of Jesus. Jesus was concerned about the paralytic's physical well-being, but also for his spiritual health. When Jesus told the man that his sins were forgiven, the religious leaders were scandalized as only God could forgive sins. To prove his authority over both physical and spiritual affliction, Jesus healed the man. The people were astonished and gave praise to God, the true purpose of any miracle.
TO LOVE: To what lengths am I willing to go to bring a friend to Jesus?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, heal me from anything that impedes my Christian walk.
Memorial of Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church
After the bishop of Milan died, 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 catechuman, 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. He immediately gave away his wealth to the Church to help the poor as an example to his flock. Ambrose was a preacher, teacher, bible student of renown, and writer of liturgical hymns. His preaching helped convert St. 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 great 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.
Monday 7 December 2015
St
Ambrose.
Isaiah
35:1-10. Our God will come to save us!—Ps 84(85):9-14. Luke 5:17-26.
‘Rejoice’
sings Isaiah’s wilderness.
Everything
will bloom and shout with joy.
If you
open your eyes and look, you will see that right here is your God, both in the
present and for the future. God’s arrival transforms everything through love –
every inability, lack and desolation. The ones who are transformed will
celebrate, shout and sing with praise for God. In place of a wilderness of
restlessness and searching is a road that leads to home, a home with God.
This
Advent season I invite you to reflect not only on God’s coming in Christ but also
your coming home. God comes. God is here. So sing and shout for joy. The love,
generosity and compassion of our God is fulfilled for all the peoples of the
world through our hope and faith. We are the love that transforms our corner of
the world and it is through love that we are finally home.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Path of Humility
|
Lord, lead us ever closer to your mystery. Lead us on the path
that you want us to take: the path of humility, the path of meekness, the path
of poverty, the path of feeling ourselves sinners. This is how you come to save
us, to free us. –Pope Francis
December
7
St. Ambrose
(340?-397)
St. Ambrose
(340?-397)
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. TheConfessions 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 St. 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.
Comment:
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.
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.
Quote:
“Women and men are not mistaken when they regard themselves as superior to mere bodily creatures and as more than mere particles of nature or nameless units in modern society. For by their power to know themselves in the depths of their being they rise above the entire universe of mere objects.... Endowed with wisdom, women and men are led through visible realities to those which are invisible” (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 14–15, Austin Flannery translation).
“Women and men are not mistaken when they regard themselves as superior to mere bodily creatures and as more than mere particles of nature or nameless units in modern society. For by their power to know themselves in the depths of their being they rise above the entire universe of mere objects.... Endowed with wisdom, women and men are led through visible realities to those which are invisible” (Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 14–15, Austin Flannery translation).
Patron Saint of:
Bee keepers
Learning
Bee keepers
Learning
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 5,17-26
Lectio:
Monday, December 7, 2015
2nd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
you come among your people;
to those who are poor and paralyzed
you bring them your forgiveness
and your tender compassion
through your Son Jesus Christ.
God, make us deeply believe
that you want to liberate us
from our discouragement and powerlessness.
Give us a sincere, trusting hope
in your healing, compassionate love,
through Christ Jesus our Lord.
you come among your people;
to those who are poor and paralyzed
you bring them your forgiveness
and your tender compassion
through your Son Jesus Christ.
God, make us deeply believe
that you want to liberate us
from our discouragement and powerlessness.
Give us a sincere, trusting hope
in your healing, compassionate love,
through Christ Jesus our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 5, 17-26
Now it happened that he was teaching one day, and Pharisees and
teachers of the Law, who had come from every village in Galilee, from Judaea
and from Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was there so
that he should heal.
And now some men appeared, bringing on a bed a paralysed man whom they were trying to bring in and lay down in front of him. But as they could find no way of getting the man through the crowd, they went up onto the top of the house and lowered him and his stretcher down through the tiles into the middle of the gathering, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith he said, 'My friend, your sins are forgiven you.'
The scribes and the Pharisees began to think this over. 'Who is this man, talking blasphemy? Who but God alone can forgive sins?' But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, made them this reply, 'What are these thoughts you have in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Get up and walk"? But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' -- he said to the paralysed man-'I order you: get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.' And immediately before their very eyes he got up, picked up what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
They were all astounded and praised God and were filled with awe, saying, 'We have seen strange things today.'
And now some men appeared, bringing on a bed a paralysed man whom they were trying to bring in and lay down in front of him. But as they could find no way of getting the man through the crowd, they went up onto the top of the house and lowered him and his stretcher down through the tiles into the middle of the gathering, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith he said, 'My friend, your sins are forgiven you.'
The scribes and the Pharisees began to think this over. 'Who is this man, talking blasphemy? Who but God alone can forgive sins?' But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, made them this reply, 'What are these thoughts you have in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Get up and walk"? But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' -- he said to the paralysed man-'I order you: get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.' And immediately before their very eyes he got up, picked up what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
They were all astounded and praised God and were filled with awe, saying, 'We have seen strange things today.'
3) Reflection
• Sitting down, Jesus taught. People liked to listen to him.
Which was the theme of Jesus’ teaching? He always spoke about God, of his
Father, but he spoke in a new way, attractive, different from that of the
Scribes and the Pharisees (Mk 1, 22.27). Jesus represented God as the great Good
News for human life; a God Father/Mother who loves and accepts
persons, and a God who does not threaten and does not condemn.
• A paralyzed man is brought by four men. Jesus is for them their only hope. Seeing their faith, he tells the paralytic: Your sins are forgiven you! At that time, people believed that the physical defects (paralysis, etc.) were a punishment from God because of some sin committed. For this reason, the paralytics and many other disabled persons felt that they were rejected and excluded by God! Jesus teaches the contrary. Such a great faith of the paralytic was an evident sign of the fact that those who helped them were accepted by God. This is why Jesus declares: Your sins are forgiven you! That is: “God does not reject you!”
• The affirmation of Jesus did not coincide with the idea which the Doctors had of God. For this reason, they react: He is talking blasphemy! According to their teaching, only God could forgive sins. And only the priest could declare that a person was forgiven and purified. How could Jesus, in their eyes, a simple lay man, ever declare that the paralytic was forgiven and purified from his sins? And then, if a simple lay person could forgive sins, the doctors and the priests would have lost their functions! This is why they react and defend themselves.
• Jesus justifies his action: Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven or to say, Get up and walk?. Evidently, for a man it is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven”, because nobody can verify or prove this fact. But if one says: “Get up and walk”, in this case everybody can see if he has or not this power to cure. For this reason, to show that, in the name of God, he had the power to forgive sins, Jesus says to the paralytic: “Get up and walk!” He cures the man! He shows that the paralysis is not a punishment from God because of sin, and he shows that the faith of the poor is a proof of the fact that God accepts them in his love.
• A paralyzed man is brought by four men. Jesus is for them their only hope. Seeing their faith, he tells the paralytic: Your sins are forgiven you! At that time, people believed that the physical defects (paralysis, etc.) were a punishment from God because of some sin committed. For this reason, the paralytics and many other disabled persons felt that they were rejected and excluded by God! Jesus teaches the contrary. Such a great faith of the paralytic was an evident sign of the fact that those who helped them were accepted by God. This is why Jesus declares: Your sins are forgiven you! That is: “God does not reject you!”
• The affirmation of Jesus did not coincide with the idea which the Doctors had of God. For this reason, they react: He is talking blasphemy! According to their teaching, only God could forgive sins. And only the priest could declare that a person was forgiven and purified. How could Jesus, in their eyes, a simple lay man, ever declare that the paralytic was forgiven and purified from his sins? And then, if a simple lay person could forgive sins, the doctors and the priests would have lost their functions! This is why they react and defend themselves.
• Jesus justifies his action: Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven or to say, Get up and walk?. Evidently, for a man it is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven”, because nobody can verify or prove this fact. But if one says: “Get up and walk”, in this case everybody can see if he has or not this power to cure. For this reason, to show that, in the name of God, he had the power to forgive sins, Jesus says to the paralytic: “Get up and walk!” He cures the man! He shows that the paralysis is not a punishment from God because of sin, and he shows that the faith of the poor is a proof of the fact that God accepts them in his love.
4) Personal questions
• Placing myself in the position of those who helped the
paralytic: Would I be capable to help a sick person, take him up to the top of
the house and do what the four men did? Do I have such a great faith?
• Which is the image that I have of God in myself and which radiates on others? That of the doctors or that of Jesus? A God of compassion or of threat?
• Which is the image that I have of God in myself and which radiates on others? That of the doctors or that of Jesus? A God of compassion or of threat?
5) Concluding Prayer
I will hear what God proclaims;
the Lord – for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land. (Ps 85)
the Lord – for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land. (Ps 85)
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