07/12/2023

St Ambrose whose feast day is celebrated today lead an extremely complicated public life as an Imperial official in  the complexity of the rapidly disintegrating Roman Empire. His achievements were certainly of this world. He was not himself personally a Christian when acclaimed Bishop of Milan and even had to be baptised before he took up his new role.

Today  when we look at many of the prelates who rule our Church today we are faced with the paradoxically opposite. They have all been, by the Providence of God, born Christians into a world which is also highly complex but now only vaguely aware of Jesus, his life death and resurrection. The Bishops have all professed belief in the teachings of Jesus but they have all inherited and  accepted the trappings and mentality of Roman Governors transformed into modern  business executives.

It seems that after his acceptance of the role of Christian Bishop, Ambrose gave up his wealth and lived an ascetic life, cared for the poor and did much to fight the heresies that were dividing the Church. The previous incumbent of his Milan seat had been an Arian.

My own impression nowadays is that Bishops have always been as they are today entwined within worldly "signs of the times" and are so concerned about not offending the sinners who rule our world built on Mammon and Hedonism that they have lost touch with the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Isaiah's hymn of praise is focussed on the Glory of God. The Psalm lifts our souls to behold the goodness of our creator. Oh that my mind could retain not only the words  "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love hath no end" but also the tranquility of being that gives rise to them.

Jesus is speaking to all of us past present and to come. He tells us that "Lord, Lord" without the foundations of  sincerity, humility and love is "zilch". There is not one "role" or duty in this life more important than knowing the presence of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and acting accordingly. Popes, priests and prelates even saintly ones also only have one soul and as with all of us they need to be constantly aware that without firm foundations the house built on sand fell "and what a fall it had!"

Dear Lord let me continue to live in your love protected by grace which you offer freely to all men, great and small. Let me continue this day without sin and let me accept all that happens to me secure in that I am trying to live with my will aligned to yours. May Mary lead all the saints in  prayer, a reflection of your Glory, that we sinners on earth together with the Holy Souls may come to know in the depths of our beings that we can be forgiven for the evils we are letting loose in the world by our sins. Amen