Friday, December 15 : Saint Ambrose

The Lord, knowing that without the Gospel nobody’s faith may be complete – for the Bible begins from the Old Testament but is brought to fulfilment by the New – does not answer questions about him with words but by acts. “Go, he says, and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them”. This testimony is complete because it is of him they had prophesied: “The Lord sets prisoners free; the Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those who are bowed down (…) The Lord shall reign forever, through all generations!” (Ps 145[146]:7f). These are the signs of a power that is not human, but divine (…) And yet these are only the least examples of the testimony given by Christ. What makes the fullness of faith is the Lord’s cross, his death, his burial. This is why, after giving the answer we have quoted, he also says: “And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” In fact, the cross could have indeed provoked the fall of the Chosen ones, but there is no greater testimony of a divine person, nothing that seems to go further beyond human forces than this offering of one man for the entire world. Through this only, the Lord reveals himself fully. Furthermore, this is how John had defined him: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team