Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
(Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26)
St. Ambrose came from an aristocratic Roman family. He went to Milan as the Roman governor of the
region. He was so successful that when
the episcopacy became vacant, the people nominated him for the ministry -- as a
layman! He succeeded beyond expectation. One of his greatest accomplishments was securing
a right relationship between church and state.
He recognized the authority of the state in matters of public welfare. But he insisted that governments carry out
their responsibilities morally if they were to have church support. When the Roman emperor had civilians murdered,
Ambrose forbade him enter his cathedral.
Only after doing the requisite penance was the emperor allowed to worship
with the bishop.
Ambrose’s determination is reflected in today’s first
reading. Isaiah exhorts Judah to resist
evil. He encourages the people to be
strong first by promising God’s assistance.
Then he holds out the hope of a better world. He does not speak of a more equitable
distribution of resources but of concrete blessings. He says the broken will be
made whole and the wasteland converted into a highway.
The United States and, in some sense, the world is now preparing
for new leadership. We hope that
President-elect Biden will follow a moral design for a strong society. We pray that his tenure will be marked by human
development and mutual respect among people and nations. May he follow St. Ambrose’s regard for both the
moral and spiritual sensibility of civic governance.
