Confessions - Book II - Chapter VI
St. Augustine reflects on the nature of sin and human desire, revealing that true beauty and fulfillment are found only in God, not in worldly transgressions.
In this devotional sermon, St. Augustine meditates on the nature of sin through the lens of a youthful theft, exploring the emptiness of sinful pleasures and the true beauty found only in God. He contrasts human pride and ambition with the divine qualities of simplicity, innocence, and supreme goodness. Augustine invites listeners to recognize the deceptive allure of sin and to seek fulfillment in God's perfect truth and love.
Text
12. What was it in you, O theft of mine, that I, poor wretch, doted on--you deed of darkness--in that sixteenth year of my age? Beautiful you were not, for you were a theft. But are you anything at all, so that I could analyze the case with you? Those pears that we stole were fair to the sight because they were thy creation, O Beauty beyond compare, O Creator of all, O thou good God--God the highest good and my true good.[53] Those pears were truly pleasant to the sight, but it was not for them that my miserable soul lusted, for I had an abundance of better pears. I stole those simply that I might steal, for, having stolen them, I threw them away. My sole gratification in them was my own sin, which I was pleased to enjoy; for, if any one of these pears entered my mouth, the only good flavor it had was my sin in eating it. And now, O Lord my God, I ask what it was in that theft of mine that caused me such delight; for behold it had no beauty of its own--certainly not the sort of beauty that exists in justice and wisdom, nor such as is in the mind, memory senses, and the animal life of man; nor yet the kind that is the glory and beauty of the stars in their courses; nor the beauty of the earth, or the sea--teeming with spawning life, replacing in birth that which dies and decays. Indeed, it did not have that false and shadowy beauty which attends the deceptions of vice.
13. For thus we see pride wearing the mask of high-spiritedness, although only thou, O God, art high above all. Ambition seeks honor and glory, whereas only thou shouldst be honored above all, and glorified forever. The powerful man seeks to be feared, because of his cruelty; but who ought really to be feared but God only? What can be forced away or withdrawn out of his power--when or where or whither or by whom? The enticements of the wanton claim the name of love; and yet nothing is more enticing than thy love, nor is anything loved more healthfully than thy truth, bright and beautiful above all. Curiosity prompts a desire for knowledge, whereas it is only thou who knowest all things supremely. Indeed, ignorance and foolishness themselves go masked under the names of simplicity and innocence; yet there is no being that has true simplicity like thine, and none is innocent as thou art. Thus it is that by a sinner\\
Sermon Outline
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I. The Nature of Sin
- Reflection on the theft of pears as a symbol of sin
- Sin's lack of true beauty or goodness
- The pleasure derived from sin is self-destructive
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II. The Contrast Between God and Sin
- God as the ultimate source of beauty and goodness
- Sin as a false and shadowy imitation
- Human desires masked under pride and ambition
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III. The Deception of Human Pride
- Pride disguising itself as high-spiritedness
- Ambition and the desire for honor versus true worship of God
- The folly of fearing anything but God
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IV. The Call to Recognize True Innocence and Simplicity
- Ignorance and foolishness masquerading as innocence
- True simplicity and innocence belong only to God
- The sinner’s need for God’s grace and truth
Key Quotes
“Those pears that we stole were fair to the sight because they were thy creation, O Beauty beyond compare, O Creator of all, O thou good God--God the highest good and my true good.” — St. Augustine
“My sole gratification in them was my own sin, which I was pleased to enjoy; for, if any one of these pears entered my mouth, the only good flavor it had was my sin in eating it.” — St. Augustine
“For thus we see pride wearing the mask of high-spiritedness, although only thou, O God, art high above all.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Examine your own desires to discern whether they seek God or fleeting sinful pleasures.
- Reject pride disguised as virtue and submit to God's rightful honor and glory.
- Seek true simplicity and innocence through a relationship with God rather than worldly pursuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main sin Augustine reflects on in this sermon?
Augustine reflects on the theft of pears, using it as a metaphor for sin and the human tendency to sin for its own sake.
How does Augustine describe the beauty of sin?
He explains that sin has no true beauty and that any pleasure derived from it is actually the delight in sin itself, not in the object of sin.
What does Augustine say about pride?
Pride disguises itself as high-spiritedness, ambition, and other virtues, but it ultimately misplaces honor and fear that belong only to God.
Why does Augustine emphasize God’s beauty and goodness?
He contrasts God’s true and perfect beauty with the false and shadowy beauty of sin to show where true fulfillment lies.
What practical lesson does this sermon teach about human desires?
It teaches that human desires often seek satisfaction in sin or pride, but true peace and goodness come only from God.