As we make our Advent journey and approach Christmas, we look forward to celebrating the birth of our loving Shepherd (how appropriate that the first to greet his arrival were shepherds!) We also owe it to ourselves to reflect on how we look on those who most need shepherding today. How do we look at those who appear to have gone astray morally or those who may have been instrumental in causing the waywardness of others? How judgmental are we? And how ready to receive back the wrongdoer – not just grudgingly, but with joy? The simple truth is that we all need shepherding in one way or another. And we all have the power to lead others astray. May the words of Jesus be deeply etched on our hearts at this time: “It is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.”
Let us pray. “Good Shepherd, teach us to walk as you walk: beside those in mourning so that they will know joy; beside those in fear that they will know comfort; and beside those who hunger that they will feast until their cup overflows. Let us strive to help build on earth what you have promised us in heaven. In the face of all hardship, present and yet to come, let us lead others to quiet and refreshing waters. In your Name we pray. Amen.”
Advent Extra: St. Ambrose, whose Feast we celebrate today, was born in 339. As a young adult, he studied Greek literature, law, and rhetoric. About 372, he began to develop a reputation as an excellent and highly skilled administrator and he was made consular prefect of Liguria (Italy).
At this time in the Church there were deep divisions between the Arians, who denied the divinity of Christ and those who affirmed it. In 374, the Arian bishop of Milan died, and those who sided with this heresy wanted one of their own as successor. St. Ambrose, not yet considered a “saint” by the Church and, in fact, not even Baptized yet, went personally to the cathedral, where the election of the new bishops would be held, in order to prevent a riot. He recognized the waywardness of the Arians and sought to intervene on their behalf. During his speech defending orthodox belief and peace in the Church, a voice cried out: “Ambrose for bishop!” He was said to be highly embarrassed, since he was not yet a Christian, but the whole assembly took up the cry. In vain did he assert his ineligibility for the office! Within one week, he was Baptized and ordained bishop. Under the guidance of a tutor, Ambrose began the study of the Scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers. He would become an influential promoter of “right teaching,” faithful to the Fathers, in the Western church. As bishop, he immediately adopted a simple and ascetic lifestyle, distributed his money to the poor, and gave away all of his personal possessions.
St. Ambrose ranks with St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and St. Gregory the Great, as one of the Latin Doctors of the Church. He succeeded as a teacher of the faith despite his training in law and his comparatively late study of Biblical and doctrinal subjects. His spiritual successor, St. Augustine, whose conversion was helped by St. Ambrose’s sermons, owes more to him than to any writer except St. Paul.
