Confessions - Book XI - Chapter Xxix
St. Augustine reflects on the transformative power of God's loving-kindness that sustains life and calls believers to pursue the eternal prize through Christ.
In this devotional sermon from Confessions Book XI, St. Augustine meditates on the surpassing value of God's loving-kindness and the believer's journey toward spiritual transformation. He highlights the sustaining power of Christ as mediator and the call to leave behind the past to focus on the eternal heavenly prize. Augustine also candidly shares the soul's struggles and the purifying fire of divine love that leads to ultimate union with God.
Text
39. But \"since thy loving-kindness is better than life itself,\"[450] observe how my life is but a stretching out, and how thy right hand has upheld me in my Lord, the Son of Man, the Mediator between thee, the One, and us, the many--in so many ways and by so many means. Thus through him I may lay hold upon him in whom I am also laid hold upon; and I may be gathered up from my old way of life to follow that One and to forget that which is behind, no longer stretched out but now pulled together again--stretching forth not to what shall be and shall pass away but to those things that are before me. Not distractedly now, but intently, I follow on for the prize of my heavenly calling,[451] where I may hear the sound of thy praise and contemplate thy delights, which neither come to be nor pass away.
But now my years are spent in mourning.[452] And thou, O Lord, art my comfort, my eternal Father. But I have been torn between the times, the order of which I do not know, and my thoughts, even the inmost and deepest places of my soul, are mangled by various commotions until I shall flow together into thee, purged and molten in the fire of thy love.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Acknowledging God's loving-kindness as better than life
- The sustaining power of God's right hand through Christ
- The believer's call to forget the past and focus on the heavenly prize
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II
- The struggle of human life marked by mourning and confusion
- God as eternal comfort and Father
- The soul's purification through the fire of divine love
Key Quotes
“Since thy loving-kindness is better than life itself, observe how my life is but a stretching out, and how thy right hand has upheld me in my Lord, the Son of Man.” — St. Augustine
“I may be gathered up from my old way of life to follow that One and to forget that which is behind, no longer stretched out but now pulled together again.” — St. Augustine
“My thoughts, even the inmost and deepest places of my soul, are mangled by various commotions until I shall flow together into thee, purged and molten in the fire of thy love.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Trust in God's loving-kindness as the true sustainer of life beyond earthly struggles.
- Let go of past mistakes and distractions to pursue the heavenly calling with focused intent.
- Embrace the refining process of God's love even amid personal mourning and inner turmoil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does St. Augustine mean by 'thy loving-kindness is better than life itself'?
He emphasizes that God's steadfast love sustains and surpasses all earthly life and desires.
How does the sermon describe the believer's spiritual journey?
It is a movement from old ways to a focused pursuit of the eternal prize through Christ.
What role does mourning play in this sermon?
Mourning represents the human struggle and recognition of dependence on God's comfort.
What is the 'fire of thy love' referring to?
It symbolizes the purifying and refining process of God's love on the soul.