To the newly baptized on the Eucharist

On Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a scripture passage from the second book of Chronicles (20:1-9, 13-24) entitled "The wondrous story relating the help God offered to Jehoshaphat". Our treasure, which follows, is from the beginning of the treatise On the Mysteries by Saint Ambrose, bishop. Saint Ambrose (c. 340–397) was one of the greatest bishops and teachers in the history of the Catholic Church. As Bishop of Milan, he courageously defended the independence of the Church from political rulers, preached with exceptional wisdom, and cared deeply for the poor and those in need. A gifted theologian and biblical teacher, he helped explain the doctrines of the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the sacraments, and Christian moral living, especially through his clear interpretation of Sacred Scripture. On the Mysteries is a brief work written by Saint Ambrose around AD 387 for newly baptized Christians after Easter. He wrote it to explain the deeper meaning of the sacraments they had just received. Ambrose teaches that Baptism gives new life, Confirmation strengthens believers with the Holy Spirit, and the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. Rooted in Scripture, the work shows that God uses visible signs to communicate invisible grace and remains an important witness to the Catholic Church's earliest sacramental teaching. Our "treasure" today entitled "To the Newly Baptized on the Eucharist," from On the Mysteries by Saint Ambrose, teaches that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, transformed by the power of Christ's words and the Holy Spirit. Saint Ambrose teaches the newly baptized that although the appearances of bread and wine remain, their reality is changed into Christ Himself. He explains that if God's word has the power to create the world and perform miracles, it also has the power to change bread and wine into the Lord's Body and Blood. The main takeaway is that the Eucharist is the greatest gift Christ gives His Church, nourishing believers with His own divine life. Saint Ambrose encourages the faithful to approach the Eucharist with deep faith, reverence, and gratitude, trusting Christ's promise rather than relying only on what the senses perceive. Through Holy Communion, we are united more closely with Christ and strengthened to live as His disciples. The main teaching of our first reading from the second book of Chronicles is that God faithfully delivers those who place their complete trust in Him. When King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were threatened by a powerful enemy they could not defeat on their own, they turned to God in humble prayer, acknowledging their helplessness and seeking His guidance. Through the prophet, God assured them, "The battle is not yours but God's," and as they responded with faith and praise rather than fear, the Lord miraculously defeated their enemies without Judah having to fight. The passage teaches that in times of overwhelming trials, our first response should be confident prayer and trust in God's power, knowing that He is faithful to protect, guide, and save those who rely on Him.