HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF ADVENT

Homily for Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent

Memorial of St. Ambrose (Bishop and Doctor of the Church)

Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus in today's Gospel sends out a tender and loving invitation to all those who are sorrowful, perplexed, wearied out, suffering, down cast etc. He says: "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt.11:28).

Jesus understands the weariness of our labour; the weight of our burdens; the weakness of our body and spirit. He compares our daily burdens to a yoke that oxen are forced to carry. He contrasts it with His yoke which is easy and light. Let us present all our burdens before Him and find rest for our souls.

Nothing can be hidden from God. All our ways are constantly laid bare before Him. Prophet Isaiah promised that all those who wait on the Lord in the First Reading will be renewed in strength: "But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with the wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isa.40:31).

We celebrate the memorial of St. Ambrose today. He was born in Gaul, where his father exercised the office of Prefect of the Praeterium, about the year 340. His father died while he was still an infant, and with his mother, he returned to Rome, where he enjoyed a good education, learned the Greek language and he became a good poet and orator. Later he moved to Milan with his brother.

As a civil servant in Milan, he was unexpectedly chosen by the people to be their Bishop while he was still a catechumen by both Catholics and Arians which he reluctantly accepted. As he was only a catechumen, he received the sacrament of Baptism, after which he was consecrated Bishop, in 374, at the age of thirty-four.

After his ordination as a Bishop, he carried out his ministry with great dedication and love. He wrote extensively in order to help the Christian community be strong in their faith and to counteract the heresies of the Arians.

He had the satisfaction of witnessing the conversion of the great St. Augustine, whom he baptized in 387. One of his last actions was the ordination of St. Honoratus. After a life of labour and prayer the holy Bishop of Milan died in 397. May God through the intercession of St. Ambrose grant us the grace to learn His ways and live by them through Christ our Lord. Amen.