Ways of Achieving Salvation

 

We walk the ways of salvation by doing the words of God. 

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 1st Week of Advent B and the Memorial of St. Ambrose, December 7th, 2023
Texts: Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; Matthew 7:21.24-27 

We have to know, today, that every way does not lead to salvation; there are ways of achieving salvation. Any land or community that follow the ways is a strong city. The land of Judah is a strong city because God has provided for them the ways of achieving salvation.  Hence, we read, “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.” To ‘set up salvation’ is to make available ways of achieving salvation. The ways are as walls and bulwarks because they surely lead to salvation.  

God commands us to reveal the ways of salvation to those who do not know. He says, “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in.” We are not to keep the ways of salvation to ourselves. We have to trust in God to walk the ways of salvation. Without trust in God, fear, troubles and worldly cares will nock us out of the ways. We must trust in God. We read, “You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the  Lord for ever, for the  Lord GOD is an everlasting rock.” 

We walk the ways of salvation by doing the words of God

What are these ways of achieving salvation? We cannot see it in today’s first reading. However, Jesus tells us in the gospel reading. They are the words of God. He says, “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” We walk the ways of salvation by doing the words of God.  

Prophet Isaiah also affirms that the words of God are the ways of salvation. He says, “many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths” (2:3). The nations go to the land of Judah to seek the ways of achieving salvation.  

The memorialofSt. Ambrose

St. Ambrose, whose memorial is today, did the words of God. He was a blessing to the people of Milan in time of crisis over election of bishop. When he came to intervene in the matter, the people asked him to be the bishop. He was yet to be baptised then but was baptised, ordained and installed as bishop in a week. Having been installed as bishop, he gave his money to the poor and land to the Church. He studied theology as a bishop.  

 St. Ambrose “was assiduous in carrying out his office, acting with charity to all: a true shepherd and teacher of the faithful. ... He defended the rights of the Church and attacked the Arian heresy with learning, firmness and gentleness” (Universalis). Some of the hymns he wrote are still with us till today. He teaches us to have concern for the poor and the church and to be responsible in our professions and vocation. He had great influence in conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo.  

Prayer 

O God, who made the Bishop Saint Ambrose a teacher of the Catholic faith and a model of apostolic courage, raise up in your Church men after your own heart to govern her with courage and wisdom. Amen (Collect)  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke