Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
“…like the wise man who built his house on rock.”
In our first reading, from Isaiah, we learn of this rock: “The Lord is an eternal rock.”
Is my life built upon this rock? The Sacred Scriptures teach us that the solidity of such a building comes through the ear: Jesus tells his hearers about the Kingdom he has come to proclaim: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them …”
So, we receive the Kingdom, the Realm of God, by hearing: ‘Faith comes by hearing.’ St. Benedict makes hearing the foundation of the monastic life; “Listen” is the first word of his rule.
The life we build from hearing is the complex of meanings we come to live from. This kind of knowledge is called “wisdom” – how to live well. Whether we be accounted wise, how we have learned to live well, depends upon the hearing which is ‘obedience’: ‘Let the one who has ears to hear, hear!’ says Jesus.
We do this hearing especially in two places:
In the school of the Church, Mater et Magistra, Mother and Teacher, who speaks God’s word especially the Sacred Liturgy and the Sacraments, which the ancient Church summarized in the phrase, lex orandi, lex credendi…. ‘The Church in her prayer shows what she believes.’
And this hearing is done in daily life where the reflected-upon events of our lives—our experiences—school us in God’s ways, if only we allow the Holy Spirit to show us what’s going on!
Reflection by Fr. Xavier Nacke, OSB
Posted in Articles for Advent, Daily Reflections