Ambrose of Milan

But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat…

“Love is commanded when it is said, "Love your enemies," so that the saying which was uttered already before the church may be fulfilled: "Set in order love in me." For love is set in order when the precepts of love are formed.”

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

“What Christ said in word, he proved also by example. Indeed, when he was on the cross, he said in reference to his persecutors who were slandering him, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," so that he might pray…”

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return.

“Now philosophy seems to divide justice into three parts; one towards God, which is called piety; another towards our parents, or the rest of mankind; a third to the dead, that the proper rites may be performed.”

I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug…

“Or, He teaches that the obedience to heavenly precepts is the foundation of all virtue, by means of which this our house can be moved neither by the torrent of pleasures, nor by the violence of spiritual wickedness, neither by the storms of this world…”

When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.

“And when he had finished giving these instructions, he teaches his disciples to follow the example of their teachers.”

So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not…

“Which certainly He did not do, because He was unable to heal when absent, but that He might set them an example of imitating His humility.”

That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

“But Luke well says, that friends were sent by the centurion to meet our Lord, lest by his own coming he might seem both to embarrass our Lord, and to have called for a requital of good offices.”

When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

“And indeed if you read it thus, "In none in Israel have I found so great faith," the meaning is simple and easy.”

And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

“The faith of the master is proved, and the health of the servant established, as it follows, And they that were sent returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”

Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”

“This dead man was borne on the bier by the four material elements to the grave, but there was a hope of his rising again because he was borne on wood, which though before it did not benefit us, yet after Christ had touched it…”

Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to…

“But we have before said, that mystically John was the type of the Law, which was the forerunner of Christ. John then sends his disciples to Christ, that they might obtain the filling up of their knowledge, for Christ is the fulfilling of the Law.”

At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.

“An ample testimony surely by which the Prophet might recognise the Lord. For of the, Lord Himself it was prophesied, that the Lord giveth food to the hungry, raiseth up them that are bowed down, looseth the prisoners, openeth the eyes of the blind, and…”

Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

“But still these are but slight examples of the testimony to the Lord. The full assurance of faith is the cross of the Lord, His death and burial. Hence He adds, And blessed is he who shall not be offended in me.”

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

“Indeed, greater than a prophet (or more than a prophet) was he in whom the prophets terminate; for many desired to see Him whom he saw, whom he baptized.”

This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

“But he prepared the way of the Lord not only in the order of birth according to the flesh, and as the messenger of faith, but also as the forerunner of His glorious passion. Hence it follows, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.”

I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

“But if Christ also is a prophet, how is this man greater than all. But it is said, among those born of woman, not of a virgin.”

All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

“Therefore, God Himself is justified through baptism, as humans justify themselves by confessing their own sins, as it is written: 'Declare your iniquities, so that you may be justified' (Isaiah 43:26).”

But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

“Let us not then despise (as the Pharisees did) the counsel of God, which is in the baptism of John, that is, the counsel which the Angel of great counsel searches out. (Is. 9:6. LXX.) No one despises the counsel of man.”

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

“(Verse 35.) Therefore Wisdom is justified by all her children. Well by all, because justice is preserved around all, so that the reception of the faithful may be, and the rejection of the unfaithful.”

When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

“Now in this place many seem to be perplexed with the question, whether the Evangelists do not appear to have differed concerning the faith.”

“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them.

“But in the Pharisee's house, that is, in the house of the Law and the Prophets, not the Pharisee, but the Church is justified. For the Pharisee believed not, the Church believed.”

And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?

“The church washes the feet of Christ, wipes them with her hair, anoints them with oil, and pours ointment on them. She not only cares for the wounded and caresses the weary, but she also moistens them with the sweet perfume of grace.”

You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.

“A kiss is a mark of love.…He truly kisses Christ's feet who, in reading the Gospel, recognizes the acts of the Lord Jesus and admires them with holy affection. With a reverent kiss, he caresses the footprints of the Lord as he walks.”

You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.

“Blessed is he even who can anoint with oil the feet of Christ, but more blessed is he who anoints with ointment, for the essence of many flowers blended into one, scatters the sweets of various odours.”

But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

“The moral teacher who gives himself an example to others, when about to enjoin upon others, that he who has not left father and mother, is not worthy of the Son of God, first submits Himself to this precept, not that He denies the claims…”