Monday - Second Week of Advent
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. (Matthew 1:24)
We have in this passage the first of four responses of Joseph to an angel’s message: ”When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” He will respond in this same fashion three more times:
• When later told to flee to Egypt: ”Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.”
• After Herod’s death when told to return to Israel: ”He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.”
• On the way, when warned in a dream that Herod Archelaus was ruler of Judea: ”He departed for the region of Galilee.”
Joseph faithfully did whatever he was given to do. That’s the long and the short of it in my life. Sometimes I wonder, “Why this? Why me? But it’s got to be done, and I’m the one to do it, so I do it.
Doing God’s will doesn’t always involve high-profile stuff or works that seem so wonderful. Only later will we realize how important the ordinary things really are.
Just ask Joseph.
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
Tuesday, December 7, 2004
Feast of St. Ambrose
Ambrose was governor of a region in northern Italy, with his headquarters in Milan. When the bishop of Milan died in 374, the people had a hard time electing a replacement (that’s how they chose bishops back then) because of angry factions. Worried about civil disorder, Ambrose went to the basilica and told the wrangling parties to conduct themselves peacefully. Someone shouted, “Ambrose for bishop!” and the crowd picked it up. Ambrose fled, but they tracked him down, and insisted that he become their bishop.
There was one problem. Actually, two problems. First of all, he wasn’t a priest. Second, he wasn’t even baptized.
In the space of a week, Ambrose was baptized, confirmed ordained a priest and ordained a bishop.
Ambrose began an intensive study of Scripture, sold his property, lived an ascetic life, reached out to the poor, and immersed himself in the pastoral care of his people. He turned out to be a holy bishop, and when he died 23 years later, the people acclaimed him as a saint.
* * *
There was another young man in Milan who, as Ambrose had been, was a non-Christian pursuing a civil service career. Ambrose instructed him and received him into the Church. The new convert became a great theologian, a bishop, and a saint. His name was Augustine.