On Monday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the first letter of the apostle Paul to Timothy (1: 12-26) entitled "An invitation to prayer". Our treasure, which follows, is from a sermon on Cain and Able by Saint Ambrose, bishop and martyr.
Saint Ambrose was born of a Roman family at Trier about the year 340. He studied at Rome and served in the imperial government at Sirmium. In 374, while, living in Milan, he was elected bishop of the city by popular acclaim and ordained on December 7. He devotedly carried out his duties and especially distinguished himself by his service to the poor, and as an effective pastor and teacher of the faithful. He strenuously guarded the laws of the church and defended orthodox teaching by writings and actions against the Arians. He died on Holy Saturday, April 4, 397. Saint Ambrose is a Doctor of the Church.
St. Ambrose wrote about Cain and Abel in his allegorical interpretation of the Old Testament, specifically in the section of his work titled "Hexameron, Paradise, Cain and Abel". In this work, Ambrose draws moral and theological lessons from the creation story, the Fall of Adam and Eve, and the story of the first brothers. His commentary, written in the style of St. Basil, uses classical references to interpret these biblical events for a Latin Christian audience.
St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy is a New Testament pastoral epistle written to the young church leader Timothy, offering guidance on combating false teachings, upholding sound doctrine, and maintaining order within the church in Ephesus. The letter provides a detailed outline of the qualifications for church leaders, such as bishops and deacons, emphasizes the importance of moral integrity, and warns against the love of money as a corrupting influence. It serves as a leadership manual for church organization and administration, reinforcing values of humility, purity, and steadfast faith for both leaders and the community.
