Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
After his leg was shattered by a cannonball in 1521, St. Ignatius Loyola had to wait three weeks before a doctor could look at it. By that time, the bones had set poorly. The leg had to be re-broken, and the bones reset. The doctors had to strike a blow, a violent one, but only in order to heal the leg correctly.
In the 21st century, doctors make similar decisions. For example, when a patient has an old wound that is not healing properly, the doctor will perform debridement, which is the removal of skin tissue that is dead or infected. If the debridement is done correctly, the wound will heal, and scarring will be reduced. The skin can be removed with a scalpel or scissors. It can also be removed with water or ointment, or even maggots. That’s right: in the 21st century doctors use maggots of the green bottle fly for debridement. The goal is to remove the dead or infected tissue in order to help the healing process, but the means employed can be painful and repulsive.
God, the divine physician, often does something similar for those of us who are afflicted with old wounds. He strikes a blow, but only in order to bring greater healing. In Advent, those of us who are suffering or disgusted can take courage in the messianic prophecy of Isaiah: “On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows” (Isaiah 30:26).