December 07 2018 - St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor - God works through intermediaries

Throughout Advent, we are confronted with quite an interesting dimension of God’s plan for human redemption: God works so often through intermediaries. He works through angels, angels who bring the announcement of his will. He works through Zechariah and Elizabeth, and John the Baptist proclaiming the coming of Christ. He works through Isaiah the prophet preparing the minds and hearts of God’s people to ready themselves, to put their trust and confidence in the goodness of God and his care for the poor in spirit. God works through a sinless virgin, literally coming into the world through her.

Again, we celebrate another wonderful Advent saint, who himself was an intermediary through whom God worked to bring souls to himself. For it was through the preaching and teaching and personal holiness and integrity of life of St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, that God worked to bring the fallen soul of St. Augustine back to himself. Augustine wrote in his Confessions how he had fallen into the foulest and most wicked of lifestyles, his mind corrupted with worldly error and vice.

Augustine describes anguish, in fact, hearing the words of Ambrose—anguish because Augustine began to recognize the errors of his ways, his arrogance. Through Ambrose, Augustine claims that God pierced his heart with his love. Powerful. Ambrose we know wasn’t the only intermediary in Augustine’s life. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, shed a lifetime of tears and countless prayers for her wayward son.

Each one of us here today is able to profess the Catholic faith because that faith was shared with us by others. For many of us, it was our parents who gave us the gift of faith. Priests and religious sisters and catechists, too, strengthening our faith. Brother and sister Christians, through their own lives of holiness, inspiring us to be more selfless and humble. We all have a part to play in sharing the faith, and we must never underestimate the value of solid preaching and teaching and good Christian example.

It was because that Ambrose had cooperated with the grace of God in his own life, forming his mind through study of Latin, Greek, rhetoric, philosophy, literature, and of course sacred scripture, that he was able to be such an effective intermediary, a powerful instrument of evangelization.

Advent challenges us to prepare the way of the Lord in our minds and hearts, making straight the paths of our own life, that Christ may travel them, to brings souls to himself for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the teaching and preaching of the Pope and all bishops and clergy will be founded firmly upon the full truth of the Word of God.

That all those who wander in error, far from the Gospel of Christ, may be led through the preaching and example of the Christian people to the fullness of faith.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.

 That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.