RBWords

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2013  ST. AMBROSE, bishop and doctor of the church

[Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 and Matthew 9:35 - 10:1, 5a, 6-8]

 

     The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst.  No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way, walk in it," when you would turn to the right or to the left.

  

     On retreats that I preach, one of the questions that I challenge the retreatants to ask themselves is, "How am I learning?"  As part of that process I ask them to try to identify who have been the great teachers in their lives.  Even the most superficial reading of the gospels will identify Jesus as a great teacher.  Indeed, for many people, that is ALL that they will accept about Jesus - that he was a great "teacher."  Our faith tells us that he is more than that, but sometimes we are not very open to what he is teaching.  And like many teachers, Jesus occasionally shows his frustration at closed minds and hearts. [Mark 3:5] 

 

     If we set up the nativity scene as part of our preparation in Advent for the celebration of the birth of Christ, we are preparing to see our Teacher.  Does it stop there?  Is this simply a "sentimental" thing?  Are we open to what he teaches us in the gospels, or is this just a big "birthday party" that we call "Christmas?"  The baby in the manger will have some very "adult" teachings to give us.  Some of these will disturb our political ideologies and "convenient" moral thinking.  Isaiah promises us that our Teacher will show us the way.  Are we prepared to be taught?  AMEN