Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Ambrose, the fourth century Bishop of Milan, whose preaching swayed the heart of a young Augustine. Despite his preeminent status as one of the four original doctors of the Church, he is perhaps best known for his relationship with Augustine and how this relationship ultimately led to Augustine’s conversion and baptism.   

The readings for this Feast Day include Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians where Paul writes, “To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ . . ." In my mind, I can picture Ambrose praying with these words, just prior to preaching to an audience that no doubt included the skeptical and ambitious Augustine.  

On this Feast Day, we are reminded of all Christians whose preaching, both with and without words, inspires our faith and brings about conversion in our hearts. Today, I think first and foremost of Fr. Bob, whose passionate preaching about “the inscrutable riches of Christ,” or as he would say “abundant living,” swayed my heart and led to my entering the Church. 

Fr. Bob, at the end of his homilies, would often ask, “What does the abundant life Jesus promises look like for you?” As we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas, may we pray with this question and pray for the grace to experience the abundant life Christ offers both in the Christmas Season and throughout the year.

Fr. Bob, pray for us.

Saint Ambrose, pray for us.