Advent Meditations: Saturday 7 December

Dec 7, 2019 by

Sat
Dec 7
am: 20, 21
pm:110, 116, 117
Amos 5:18-27 Jude 17-25 Matt 22:15-22

 

Saturday in the first week of Advent – Feast of  St. Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, 397, . This politician-turned churchman was profoundly aware of his lack of preparation for this great responsibility and so set himself immediately to prayer and the study of Scripture.  His deep spirituality and love of God’s Word married together with the oratorical skill acquired in law and politics made St. Ambrose one of the greatest preachers of the early church. Ambrose had a large impact on his contemporaries  beyond preaching  in such areas as scholarship, pastoral leadership and personal zeal and integrity. He championed what was virtually a monastic clergy under his spiritual direction. In defending the new order of Christian life against lingering influences of a dying paganism, Ambrose was without compromise. Church tradition remembers Ambrose as a founder of Latin hymnody. He is a worthy Advent saint for all people to ponder but especially bishops. His life demonstrates surrender and submission to the will of God when it comes from the “vox popiuli.

MEDITATION: In this Epistle Jude has established the “need” for us to   contend earnestly for the faith. In this section appointed for today he provides a series of exhortations designed to make sure that we stand strong in the faith “once delivered to the saints! He is quite pointed when he reminds the reader that we must accept personal responsibility to make the effort on this journey.  While we are “preserved in Jesus Christ”, our remaining in Christ is affected by our willingness to be in union, fellowship and surrender to God. It is best summarized perhaps as this:1.      Remember the words spoken before 2.      Build yourselves up in the most holy faith 3.      Pray in the Spirit4.      Keep yourselves in the love of God 5.      Look for the mercy of our Lord6.      Be compassionate, with awe and respect

PRAYER: Lord, you made St. Ambrose an outstanding teacher of the Catholic faith and gave him the courage of an apostle. Raise up in your Church more leaders after your own heart, to guide us with courage and wisdom. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. What you give us to bear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

A Spiritual discipline or activity Take a few moments to ponder the six principles for the lesson from Jude today. At the start of your day make a checkbox for each category and as you go through your day and truly live into each one of those, check the box off and write a short note about the experience.  At the end of your day after prayer and reflection, look over your list and see if this could be a pattern for holy living  this Advent season

 

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  ““If someone offends you, don’t tell anyone about it except your elder, and you will be peaceful. Bow to everyone, paying no attention whether they respond to your bow or not. You must humble yourself before everyone and consider yourself the worst of all. If we have not committed the sins that others have, perhaps this is because we did not have the opportunity – the situation and circumstances were different. In each person there is something good and something bad; we usually see only the vices in people and we see nothing that is good.” ~  St. Ambrose of Milan

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