Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was born in the year 340 into the family of the Roman prefect of Gaul (now France). Even in the saint’s childhood there appeared presentiments of his great future. Once, bees covered the face of the sleeping infant. They flew in and out of his mouth, leaving honey on his tongue. Soon they flew away so high that they could no longer be seen. Ambrose’s father said that the child would become something great when he reached manhood.
After the death of the father of the family, Ambrose journeyed to Rome, where the future saint and his brother Satyrius received an excellent education. About the year 370, upon completion of his course of study, Ambrose was appointed to the position of governor (consular prefect) of the districts of Liguria and Aemilia, though he continued to live at Mediolanum (now Milan).
In the year 374 Auxentius, the Arian Bishop of Mediolanum, died. This led to complications between the Orthodox and the Arians, since each side wanted to have its own bishop. Ambrose, as the chief city official, went to the church to resolve the dispute.
While he was speaking to the crowd, suddenly a child cried out, “Ambrose for bishop!” The people took up this chant. Ambrose, who at this time was still a catechumen, considered himself unworthy, and tried to refuse. He disparaged himself, and even tried to flee from Mediolanum. The matter went ultimately before the emperor Valentinian the Elder (364-375), whose orders Ambrose dared not disobey. He accepted holy Baptism from an Orthodox priest and, passing through all the ranks of the Church clergy in just seven days, on December 7, 374 he was consecrated Bishop of Mediolanum. He dispersed all his possessions, money and property for the adornment of churches, the upkeep of orphans and the poor, and he devoted himself to a strict ascetic life.
Ambrose combined strict temperance, intense vigilance and work within the fulfilling of his duties as archpastor. Saint Ambrose, defending the unity of the Church, energetically opposed the spread of heresy. Thus, in the year 379 he traveled off to establish an Orthodox bishop at Sirmium, and in 385-386 he refused to hand over the basilica of Mediolanum to the Arians.
The preaching of Saint Ambrose in defense of Orthodoxy was deeply influential. Another noted Father of the Western Church, Saint Augustine (June 15), bore witness to this, having accepted holy Baptism in the year 387 by the grace of the preaching of the bishop of Mediolanum.
Saint Ambrose also actively participated in civil matters. Thus, the emperor Gracian (375-383), having received from him the “Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” (De Fide), removed, by decree of the saint, the altar of Victory from the halls of the Senate at Rome, on which oaths were wont to be taken. Displaying a pastoral boldness, Saint Ambrose placed a severe penance on the emperor Theodosius I (379-395) for the massacre of innocent inhabitants of Thessalonica. For him there was no difference between emperor and commoner. Though he released Theodosius from the penance, the saint would not permit the emperor to commune at the altar, but compelled him to do public penance.
The fame of Bishop Ambrose and his actions attracted to him many followers from other lands. From far away Persia learned men came to him to ask him questions and absorb his wisdom. Fritigelda (Frigitil), queen of the military Germanic tribe of the Markomanni, which often had attacked Mediolanum, asked the saint to instruct her in the Christian Faith. The saint in his letter to her persuasively stated the dogmas of the Church. And having become a believer, the queen converted her own husband to Christianity and persuaded him to conclude a treaty of peace with the Roman Empire.
The saint combined strictness with an uncommon kindliness. Granted a gift of wonderworking, he healed many from sickness. One time at Florence, while staying at the house of Decentus, he resurrected a dead boy.
The repose of Saint Ambrose, who departed to the Lord on the night of Holy Pascha, was accompanied by many miracles. He even appeared in a vision to the children being baptized that night. The saint was buried in the Ambrosian basilica in Mediolanum, beneath the altar, between the Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius (October 14).
A zealous preacher and valiant defender of the Christian Faith, Saint Ambrose received particular renown as a Church writer. In dogmatic compositions he set forth the Orthodox teaching about the Holy Trinity, the Sacraments, and Repentance: “Five Books on the Faith” (De Fide); “Explication of the Symbol of the Faith” (Explanatio Symboli); “On the Incarnation” (De Incarnationis); “Three Books on the Holy Spirit” (De Spiritu Sancto); “On the Sacraments” (De Sacramento); “Two Books on Repentance” (De Paenitentia). In writings about Christian morality, he explained the excellence of Christian moral teaching compared to pagan moral teaching.
A well-known work of Saint Ambrose, “On the Duties of the Clergy” (De Officiis Ministrorum) evidences his deep awareness of pastoral duty. He stresses that those who serve in the Church should have not only the proper knowledge of Church services, but also the proper knowledge of moral precepts.
Saint Ambrose was also a reformer of Church singing. He introduced antiphonal singing (along the Eastern or Syrian form) into the Western Church, which became known as “Ambrosian Chant.” He also composed twelve hymns which were used during his lifetime. The hymn, “Thee, O God, we praise” (Te Deum), attributed to Saint Ambrose, entered into the divine services of the Orthodox Church (Molieben).
THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US EMPOWER US TO FAITHFULLY REPRESENT CHRIST.
“But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities…. Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ( Acts 16:19- 29).
Real spiritual fruit in us can’t be imitated or faked; it is so different from our human virtues it can only be of Christ. We can see St. Paul and Silas after they had been unjustly imprisoned, beaten and left to die in a filthy jail cell, they were filled with the Spirit and sang praises in the midnight hour. In response, God loosed their shackles and threw open the cell doors with a thundering earthquake. But instead of fleeing into the night, Paul and Silas represented Christ’s compassion and love toward the trembling prison guard who suddenly had a come to Jesus at the moment. That kind of selfless and uncreated love, is a true representation of Jesus Christ.
GOD’S PROMISE FOR US, IS TO OVERCOME THE WORLD.
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Corinthians 15:14-15).
In a world that often feels harsh, chaotic, and full of struggle, it doesn’t take long before we find ourselves battling the feelings of overwhelm, rush, or anxiety. Many of us, in fact, have grown so accustomed to these patterns, we even start to live there, in the midst of the never-ending hurry and worry mode. It is the enemy’s trap and that is where he wants us to be. Satan is a thief and a liar. He’s an expert at finding the best ways to try to steal our energy or waste our time. But Christ did overcome the devil on the cross and he gave us His victory in the Holy Spirit. Those who accept Him and receive the Holy Spirit in them will overcome the devil’s destroying plans. They will overcome his fearful and anxious thoughts. Jesus is faithful and He did promise us to send the Comforter, The Holy Spirit. He continually offers us confident peace that can never be found in this life without Him. Asking for His help in our anxious and overwhelmed struggle, praying and allowing His Spirit to guard our hearts and minds in Him, is the very first step to reaching new and solid ground. And though our circumstances may not change immediately, though our hearts may still be struggling, His Truth reminds us to set our eyes on Him. We must be assured today that He knows our way, He sees our battle, He hasn’t forgotten us, and He’s still at work, even in the most trying of times.
“Mystery hidden from the ages” (Col 1:26) And from the nations is now revealed through the true and perfect incarnation of the Son and God. For He united our nature to himself in a single hypostasis, without division, and without confusion, and joined us to himself as a kind of first fruits. This holy flesh with its intellectual and rational soul came from us and is ours. He considered us worthy to be one and the same with himself according to his humanity.
-St. Maximus the Confessor, On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ
What is my life's purpose as a Christian, and when will the coming of Jesus be?
Every Christian must understand that eternal life is not a beautiful place to which the righteous go after death.
But according to the Gospel, eternal life is the life of God Himself, which He has given us through His incarnated Son, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, eternal life is the life of union with Christ and steadfastness in Him.
The purpose of the Gospel and the Christian life is to unite with the eternal life of God through His Son, Christ Jesus. So, to know God’s will in your life, you must read the Gospel and the New Testament daily to learn about God's will and thought, as well as the commandments of Christ that lead you to fellowship with Him and unite with Him in the Holy Spirit. Then start to examine yourself and your behaviors and compare them to the commandments of the Gospel and see if they match the Lord’s commandments. Pray with repentance asking the help of the Holy Spirit for sanctification so that your life will change and you have a new nature that matches the commandment of the Gospel.
If you keep holding yourself accountable daily and matching your life to the Gospel by constantly reading the Gospel, have time to pray and meditate on God's word, you will feel Jesus’ presence in you, and you will be in God's will and love all the time and for life.
As for the second coming of Christ, although the signs mentioned by Christ in the Gospel are approaching us, no one knows the day or the hour in which He will come. But when He comes, He will appear in glory and great light. This light will change all those who are ready and waiting faithfully for Him into the image of His eternal glory.
At the same time, this light will make those who reject the truth suffer with bitterness, regret, and pain, which is the gnashing of teeth.
The Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the mystery, which was in God’s Plan before the ages. It was the central act in this Divine Plan for mankind to become holy and made immortal through communion with the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ. He became man because it was the Divine Plan and mystery before the ages to unite man with God and His life in Christ. Through Satan, the fallen angel, Adam and Eve the first humans were deceived by his thoughts and his evil knowledge that he transmitted to them. They lost the potentiality to attain perfection and immortality because they switched from contemplating the life of God to engaging in self-desires and lust. They brought themselves into a fallen world where they would receive death and would become alienated from God. His creation was wounded by Satan’s deception and was left spiritually and physically ill.
The Word of God came in His own Person, because it was He alone, the Image of the Father, Who could recreate man made after the Image. In order to effect this re-creation, however, He had first to do away with death and corruption. Therefore He assumed a human body, in order that in it death might once and for all be destroyed, and that men might be renewed according to the Image of God. Salvation, or "being saved," therefore, refers to this process of being saved from death and corruption and the fate of eternal death. There is nothing that a person can do to earn salvation. It is rather a gift from God. However, this gift of relationship has to be accepted by the believer, since God will not force salvation on humanity. Man is free to reject the gift of salvation continually offered by God. To be saved, man must work together with God in his entire being, including his will, effort and actions, are perfectly conformed with, and united to, His eternal life.
God becomes powerless before human freedom; He cannot violate it since it flows from His own omnipotence. Certainly man was created by the will of God alone; but he cannot be made holy by Him alone. A single will to raise up the image, but two to make the image into a likeness. The love of God for man is so great that it cannot constrain, for there is no love without respect. The ultimate goal of a Christian is to be in union with God. Salvation therefore is not merely an escape from the eternal bondage of death, but an entrance to participate in Christ’s eternal life.
Dear God,
We thank You that You indeed are powerful and loving, that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen us through Your Spirit in our inner being. We ask you for the fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit. We ask for Your power and love to fill us. We thank You that as believers we know that Christ dwells richly within our hearts through faith. We pray that You would strengthen our roots and establish our lives firmly in your love.
When the world shouts hate, help us to love. When the past won’t let go, help us to love. When the enemy taunts with lies and surrounds us with darkness, help us to love. When a relationship feels broken or we’re betrayed or rejected, help us to love. Help us to love, and to keep on loving by the power of Your Spirit even when it seems impossible or even when it doesn’t make sense. May our lives be filled with Your goodness and power, today and every day, as we walk in Your Spirit of love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
We can perceive the word of God
only with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit working in us
Glory to the Father, Son & the Holy Spirit
LUKE 10: 18-20
“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
JESUS HIMSELF is announcing to us that:
BUT
BUT TO REJOICE
That OUR NAMES are written in HEAVEN (the kingdom of God has been established)
