The Feast of St. Ambrose
Saturday, December 7th Readings Reflection: Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Today is the Feast of St. Ambrose, one of the first four Doctors of the Church. As bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose opposed the Arian heresy and led the great St. Augustine of Hippo to the Faith.
Today’s Gospel tells of Jesus sending out His Twelve Apostles to convert the Israelites, proclaiming to them the gospel (good news) that “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Apostles were given the authority to carry on Christ’s own mission in a singular way. In the words of St. Hilary: “The exercise of the Lord’s power is wholly entrusted to the Apostles, that they who were formed in the image of Adam, and the likeness of God [due to Original Sin], should now obtain the perfect image of Christ; and whatever evil Satan had introduced into the body of Adam, this they should now repair by communion with the Lord’s power” (Catena aurea).
In today’s Gospel, Jesus was already establishing the order by which His Church would operate. The Apostles received the authority to perform deeds that previously only Jesus had done. He was repairing the brokenness between God and man, and now, through sanctifying grade, He could reside within the human soul.
Jesus chose these twelve men to be His representatives (as seen at the Great Commission in Matthew 28), and they possessed special powers that set them apart from the rest of His disciples. These men were the first bishops of the Church, and every single bishop throughout history who has been validly ordained is a direct successor to the Twelve Apostles. It is fitting then that we should hear this Gospel on the Feast of St. Ambrose, whose episcopal life was spent steadfastly defending the truth against the Arian heresy, which denied the fact that Jesus is co-eternal with the Father.
In this dark time when we so desperately need faithful shepherds to guide us in the truth, may St. Ambrose pray for us!
