Christ has reconciled the world to God with his own blood

On Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to read and reflect on a passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah (37:21-35) entitled  "Isaiah prophesies about the Assyrian king". Our treasure, which follows, is from the Explanations of the Psalms by Saint Ambrose, bishop. 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. Saint Ambrose explained the Psalms as a source of spiritual exercise, a celebration of faith, and a way to heal the human soul. He believed that the Psalms were a divine gift that could help people develop virtues, learn about God, and find peace. For Ambrose a psalm is a blessing for the people... our universal tongue; the voice of the Church, a sweet outpouring of faith; a devotion divinely ordained; the cry of heart's delight; a leaping and jumping for joy...it soothes the angry spirit, banishes care, lessens sorrow. It guards us by night, guides us by day. The book of Isaiah is filled with sobering accounts of Israel's sin and rebellion and warnings of their coming judgement. But along with warnings, Isaiah also offers a message of hope—a suffering servant, a coming Messiah, who would come to establish God's Kingdom on Earth and create a new Jerusalem.