Festival of St. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor
Posted on December 7, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 11:25-30 (NKJV)
11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Devotion
Today is the festival of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. It is important for us to remember the fathers and doctors of the Church, not only for what they taught as pastors and shepherds of the faithful, but also because of the examples they left us to follow.
The Lord Jesus thanked His Father that He kept the mystery of the Gospel from the wise and conceited, but revealed it to the simple and childlike. It’s no wonder that the Christmas season fills us with such childlike wonder and joy! But along with this merriment comes the serious reminder that, as followers of Christ, we must carry the yoke of discipleship. St. Ambrose served during a time when there was political and theological persecution against those who endeavored to hold fast to the Gospel. We, too, must struggle against the devil, the world, and our flesh. But Christ comforts us by telling us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He invites us saying, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We should strive to follow the example of those who have taught us the Word of God, remembering the good end of their way of life, i.e., that there is a rest for the people of God, founded upon the work of our Savior.
Collect: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of St. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor
O God, who didst give Saint Ambrose as a faithful teacher of the saving truth in a time of great trial, grant to Thy people zeal for Thy Word and faithful teachers for Thy Church, that they may stand steadfast against all error, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
