Feast of St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

"A good youth ought to have a fear of God, to be subject to his parents, to give honor to his elders, to preserve his purity; he ought not to despise humility, but should love forbearance and modesty. All these are an ornament to youthful years." (St Ambrose of Milan).

"To whom can you liken me as an equal? says the Holy One.

"Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!

"Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?

"Do you not know
or have you not heard?

"The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.

"He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.

"Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall,

"They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
"They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40: 25 -31).

Wednesday December 7th 2022 of the 2nd week of Advent is the feast of St Ambrose (340 - 397). Bishop and Doctor of the Church. St Ambrose was still unbaptized and mayor of the imperial city of Milan when he was elected the Bishop of Milan. Aided by the Holy Spirit, Ambrose quickly rose to the challenges of his calling. God gave him the courage of an apostle and made him an outstanding teacher in the Church. He was famous for his care of the poor and his apostolic zeal and opposition to the Arian heresy which was the scourge of the Church in the 4th and 5th century. St Ambrose converted and baptized St Augustine.

The first Reading from Isaiah 40: 25 - 31 is one of the sweetest and most encouraging words in Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures say everywhere that it is good to wait for the Lord. This is the core message for us today.

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Do you wait for the Lord for anything? Health, family well-being, a new life, financial peace, job, a new car, home? You should find much comfort in today's word of God. Do you know that nothing happens on earth unless God okays the event? Do you know that for everything, God has assigned a particular time for it? If God permits you to be sick, lose your husband or job, it is for the best purpose for you. This is because ALL THINGS work out for good for those who love God. (Cf Romans 8: 28). Since nothing can happen without God willing it, it is impossible for God to will what is evil unless He plans to draw greater good from it.

"Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you....
Neither in my youth, nor now in old age have I seen the righteous one abandoned or his offspring begging for bread.
All day long he is gracious and lends, and his offspring become a blessing. (Psalms 27: 14, 37: 25 - 2y).

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