On Friday of the first week of Advent, that great Advent prophet Isaiah foretells a very radical change: the deaf shall hear, the blind shall see, and the lowly will find joy. If we would want to make a radical change in our lives and in our world today what would that be? Would the hungry be satisfied and have enough to eat? Would the unemployed have good quality jobs that help them find meaning in their lives and give them an opportunity to provide a good life for their families? Would the marginalized and the oppressed find justice and reconciliation in their lives. Would the angry and the conflicted find peace and comfort? Our world is a very imperfect place where there is a lot of pain and suffering. Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God to us where the values of Gospel call us to a new way of life. Let us give thanks for the wonderful season of Advent.
We hear from Isaiah today, an important Advent prophet. We also celebrate St Ambrose today, an important leader in the early Church. Ambrose was actually the Roman governor of Liguria and Emilia, which was headquartered in the city of Milan, before he became the bishop of Milan in 374. Ambrose was an opponent of Arianism, a heresy in the Early Church which denied the divinity of Christ. Ambrose is one of the four original Doctors of the Church. He is the patron saint of the city of Milan. Here is a great quote from St Ambrose that is appropriate in the time of preparation for the birth of Christ: “(Jesus) was a baby, a child, so that you may become a complete, mature person. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, so that you might be freed from the bonds of death. He was in a manger, so that you may be on the altar. He came to earth so that you may be in the stars. He had no place in the inn, so that you may have in heaven many mansions. He, being rich, became poor for your sakes, that through his poverty you might become rich.”
D. St Ambrose, pray for us as we prepare for the birth of our Lord.
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