Sermon - Advent Midweek 2022 - Week 2 - Ambrose of Milan

 Saint Ambrose barring Emperor Theodosius from Milan Cathedral, Samuel Freeman, 1832

Christians are the salt and light of the earth.

1. Christians reflect the light of Christ and do good works

2. When others see our good works they are drawn to God and glorify Him.

Today we remember and give thanks to God for St. Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter. St. Ambrose was born to a noble Roman Christian family. In 372, at the age of 32, he was named governor of a Roman province where Milan was the capital. Two years later however the bishop died, and there was some controversy over who would be the next bishop. 

The controversy largely circled around the heresy of Arianism, the belief that Jesus is not fully God. The bishop who had just died, who had been bishop for 20 years, was an Arian who had usurped the bishopric from the previous faithful bishop who had been exiled in chains. The christians rejoiced when that wicked bishop died, since they were no longer under bondage to his false teachings. However, they needed a new bishop, who was to be elected by the people, and the people were violently divided between christians and arians.

 So the Roman Emperor Valentinian sent Governor Ambrose to mediate between the people. But upon his arrival, to his surprise and dismay,  a voice from the crowd cried out, “Ambrose, bishop!” Ambrose was a very popular man, so the whole crowd agreed. Ambrose had largely kept his head out of the Arian controversy, he was a governor afterall not a priest, so he was considered a middle ground option.

However, they had an issue: Ambrose wasn’t even baptized yet! He was still a catechumen! Like many other christians during these years they had a misguided view of baptism and treated it with such reverence that hardly anyone ever got baptized. So they quickly got him baptized, consecrated a deacon, ordained a priest, and then consecrated a bishop at the age of 34. 

Despite his weird beginnings as a bishop, an unbaptized Roman governor to becoming a bishop, he turned out to be one of the greatest Doctors of the Church. He was a very learned man, being from noble lineage and receiving a classical education, and he used that to study the scriptures extensively and preach very powerful sermons. He strongly opposed the heresy of Arianism right off the bat. He wrote a number of hymns, and is even credited with writing the Te Deum (from Matins) and introducing antiphonal singing, known as Ambrosian chant, to the church.

Not only was he a very learned man, he was also very bold and courageous. The picture on your bulletin depicts one of the most well-known events in Ambrose’s life. Theodosius was now emperor, and some Thesalonians had rebelled against Rome, so emperor Theodosius in a fit of rage, massacred 7,000 Thesalonians. When the emperor tried to enter the church in Milan, Ambrose barred his entrance until he publicly repented of his sins.

Thus the life of St. Ambrose wonderfully exemplifies what we heard in our readings today. “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Christians are the salt and light of the earth. We christians are to reflect the light of Christ and do good works. So that when others see our good works they are drawn to the source of the light, God, and thus glorify Him.

Jesus says that you are the light of the world! You are like the city set on a hill, and when travelers see your light they come to you seeking rest and refuge. You are the lamp set on the table, giving light to all in the house. Jesus is the true Light, but we Christians do reflect His light. So we personally are not the saviors of the world. However, we are able to direct people to the Savior since we know the Savior Jesus.

We are all too often like Emperor Theodosius, presuming we can behave wickedly and still enjoy all of the benefits of Christianity. But that’s not how it works. We Christians are the salt of the earth, but if we’ve lost our saltiness, then we’ll be cast out and trampled under foot. If we Christians don’t behave like Christians, then we’re good for nothing and will be cast out of the house. If salt isn’t salty, then it’s just trash. Same goes for a Christian who isn’t Christian-y. 

Thank God our saltiness can be restored through repentance. Emperor Theodosius publicly repented and returned to the faith in time. Likewise, all Christians who have behaved in an un-Christian manner can repent, be absolved, and return to the faith. Christ Jesus came to save sinners, He came to die for our sins, so that we sinners would be declared righteous.

This whole issue is actually more serious even than just one individual christian going to heaven or hell. The actions of one christian influences many more christians. So if one Christian falls into sin and abides in sin, they lead others not to glorify God, but to glorify their evil deeds. This is why it’s so important for pastors to rebuke sins, like Ambrose did. 

Pastors must “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 

So if sinful living has the power to lead others astray, then how much greater and more power does holy living have to lead others to glorify God! “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Your good works are a reflection of Christ’s light, and when others see your holy living they will be drawn to the source of your light. When you live as a Christian, even and especially if it’s unpopular and different, it will serve to glorify God and lead others also to God. I know we don’t want to seem all holier than thou, but we also sure don’t want to seem unholier than thou. 

So let me encourage you to be salt and light in the world. Remember the faithfulness of Ambrose and may he be a good example to us all. Let us delight in God’s Word, and so live according to it. Let us be the salt of the earth, preserving it from God’s wrath. Let us be the light of the world, shining the light of Christ and drawing all nations to Him, who is our light and our life.