Pride & Humility

Thursday, December 7, 2006 -- Week of Advent 1, Year 1 (Ambrose of Milan)

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 936)
Psalms 18:1-20 (morning) // 18:21-50 (evening)
Isaiah 2:12-22
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Luke 20:27-40

Isaiah continues his oracle about pride. He uses various images from the natural world -- great trees and called mountains -- as well as images of human pride -- high towers, fortifications, great ships. For the prophet there is no place for pride. Only God is to be exalted.

The argument in Luke between Jesus and the Sadducees is a pride-driven debate. The Sadducees propose a scenario to ridicule the theological notion of resurrection. Jesus answers their argument, but as far as we can tell, no minds were changed. When too much pride is involved, minds tend to be closed.

Today is the feast of Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan. He was chosen Bishop when he tried to calm a riotous crowd and to mediate between rival Christian parties. Suddenly both sides declared Ambrose as their Bishop. He was quickly baptized and ordained Bishop on this day in 373.

One of our hymns which is attributed to him makes a good meditation for this Advent morning. It is another way to express Isaiah's theme of human humility and Godly honor:

O splendor of God's glory bright,
O thou that bringest light from light,
O Light of Light, light's living spring,
O Day, all days illumining.

O thou true Sun of heavenly love,
pour down thy radiance from above;
the Spirit's sanctifying beam
upon our earthly senses streams.

With prayer the Father we implore;
O Father, glorious evermore,
we plead with thee for grace and power
to conquer in temptation's hour,

to guide what e'er we nobly do,
with love all envy to subdue,
to give us grace our wrongs to bear,
to make ill fortune turn to fair.

All laud to God the Father be;
all praise, eternal Son, to thee;
all glory to the Spirit raise
in equal and unending praise.