The Third Sunday after Easter
Homily of Augustine on Psalm CXXII
Third Sunday after Easter Home
ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Source of Collect: Sacramentary of Leo, Bishop of Rome [440-461AD]. The Vigil of Easter was the traditional time for Baptism, and this collect speaks to the newly baptized "all those who are admitted into the fellowship". One had to be baptized to be present during the Eucharist. Christiana professione censentor
Isaiah lix 8 , Psalm 120, 121, 122 | 123, 124, 125; 1 St. Peter ii. 11. St. John xvi. 16.
Homily of Augustine on Psalm CXXII
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Psalm120, 121, 122 | 123, 124, 125
1 St. Peter ii. 11.
DEARLY beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
St. John xvi. 16.
JESUS said to his disciples, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Homily
Augustine
Psalm CXXII
Psalm CXXII. [5423]
1. As impure love inflames the mind, and summons the soul destined to
perish to lust for earthly things, and to follow what is perishable,
and precipitates it into lowest places, and sinks it into the abyss; so
holy love raiseth us to heavenly things, and inflames us to what is
eternal, and excites the soul to those things which do not pass away
nor die, and from the abyss of hell raiseth it to heaven. Yet all love
hath a power of its own, nor can love in the soul of the lover be idle;
it must needs draw it on. But dost thou wish to know of what sort love
is? See whither it leadeth...
2. This Psalm is a "Song of degrees;" [5424] as we have often said to
you, for these degrees [5425] are not of descent, but of ascent. He
therefore longeth to ascend. And whither doth he wish to ascend, save
into heaven? What meaneth, into heaven? Doth he wish to ascend that he
may be with the sun, moon, and stars? Far be it! But there is in heaven
the eternal Jerusalem, where are our fellow-citizens, the Angels: we
are wanderers on earth from these our fellow-citizens. We sigh in our
pilgrimage; we shall rejoice in the city. But we find companions in
this pilgrimage, who have already seen this city herself; who summon us
to run towards her. At these he also rejoiceth, who saith, "I rejoiced
in them who said unto me, We will go into the house of the Lord" (ver.
1)...
3. "Our feet were standing in the courts of Jerusalem" (ver.
2)...Consider what thou wilt be there; and although thou art as yet on
the road, place this before thine eyes, as if thou wert already
standing, as if thou wert already rejoicing without ceasing among the
Angels; as if that which is written were realized in thee: "Blessed are
they that dwell in Thy house; they will be alway praising Thee." [5426]
"Our feet stood in the courts of Jerusalem." What Jerusalem? This
earthly Jerusalem also is wont to be called by the name: though this
Jerusalem is but the shadow of that. And what great thing is it to
stand in this Jerusalem, since this Jerusalem hath not been able to
stand, but hath been turned into a ruin? Doth then the Holy Spirit
pronounce this, out of the kindled heart of the loving Psalmist, as a
great thing? Is not it that Jerusalem, unto whom the Lord said, "O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets," etc. [5427] What
great thing then did he desire; to stand among those who slew the
Prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto them? God forbid that he
should think of that Jerusalem, who so loveth, who so burneth, who so
longeth to reach that Jerusalem, "our Mother," [5428] of which the
Apostle saith, that She is "eternal in the Heavens." [5429]
4. "Jerusalem that is being built as a city" (ver. 3). Brethren, when
David was uttering these words, that city had been finished, it was not
being built. It is some city he speaketh of, therefore, which is now
being built, unto which living stones run in faith, of whom Peter
saith, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house;"
[5430] that is, the holy temple of God. What meaneth, ye are built up
as lively stones? Thou livest, if thou believest: but if thou
believest, thou art made a temple of God; for the Apostle Paul saith,
"The temple of God is holy, which temple are ye." [5431] This city is
therefore now in building; stones are cut down from the hills by the
hands of those who preach truth, they are squared that they may enter
into an everlasting structure. There are still many stones in the hands
of the Builder: let them not fall from His hands, that they may be
built perfect into the structure of the temple. This, then, is the
"Jerusalem that is being built as a city:" Christ is its foundation.
The Apostle Paul saith, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Christ Jesus." [5432] When a foundation is laid on
earth, the walls are built above, and the weight of the walls tends
towards the lowest parts, because the foundation is laid at the bottom.
But if our foundation be in heaven, let us be built towards heaven.
Bodies have built the edifice of this basilica, [5433] the ample size
of which ye see; and since bodies have built it, they placed the
foundation lowest: but since we are spiritually built, our foundation
is placed at the highest point. Let us therefore run thither, where we
may be built...But what Jerusalem do I speak of? Is it that, he asketh,
which ye see standing, raised on the structure of its walls? No; but
the "Jerusalem which is being built as a city." Why not, a city,
instead of, "as a city;" save because those walls, so built in
Jerusalem, were a visible city, as it is by all called a city,
literally; but this is being built "as a city," for they who enter it
are like living stones; for they are not literally stones? Just as they
are called stones, and yet are not so: so the city styled "as a city,"
is not a city; for he said, "is being built." For by the word building,
he meant to be understood the structure, and cohesion of bodies and
walls. For a city [5434] is properly understood of the men that inhabit
there. But in saying "is building," he showed us that he meant a town.
And since a spiritual building hath some resemblance to a bodily
building, therefore it "is building as a city."
5. But let the following words remove all doubt that we ought not to
understand carnally the words, "Whose partaking is in the same." [5435]
...What meaneth, "the same"? What is ever in the same state; not what
is now in one state, now in another. What then is, "the same," save
that which is? What is that which is? That which is
everlasting...Behold "The Same: I Am that I Am, I AM." Thou canst not
understand; it is much to understand, it is much to apprehend. Remember
what He, whom thou canst not comprehend, became for thee. Remember the
flesh of Christ, towards which thou wast raised when sick, and when
left half dead from the wounds of robbers, that thou mightest be
brought to the Inn, and there mightest be cured. [5436] Let us
therefore run unto the Lord's house, and reach the city where our feet
may stand; the city "that is building as a city: whose partaking is in
The Same."...
6. That city "which partaketh in the same," partaketh in its stability:
justly therefore, since he is made a sharer in its stability, saith he
who runneth thither. For all things there stand where nought passeth
by. Dost thou too wish to stand there and not to pass by? Run thither.
Nobody hath "the same" from himself...
7. "For thither the tribes went up" (ver. 4). We were asking whither he
ascendeth who hath fallen; for we said, it is the voice of a man who is
ascending, of the Church rising. Can we tell whither it ascendeth?
whither it goeth? whither it is raised? "Thither," he saith, "the
tribes went up." Whither? To "partaking in the Same." But what are the
tribes? Many know, many know not. For if we use the word "curies" in
its proper sense, we understand nothing, save the "curies" which exist
in each particular city, whence the terms "curiales" and "decuriones,"
that is, the citizens of a curia or a decuria; and ye know that each
city hath such curies. But there are, or were at one time, curies of
the people in those cities, and one city hath many curies, as Rome hath
thirty-five curies of the people. [5437] These are called tribes. The
people of Israel had twelve of these, according to the sons of Jacob.
8. There were twelve tribes of the people of Israel: but there were
good, and there were bad among them. For how evil were those tribes
which crucified our Lord! How good those who recognised the Lord! Those
tribes then who crucified the Lord, were tribes of the devil. When
therefore he here said, "For thither the tribes go up;" that thou
mightest not understand all the tribes, he added, "even the tribes of
the Lord."...What are the tribes of the Lord? "A testimony unto
Israel." Hear, brethren, what this meaneth. "A testimony to Israel:"
that is, whereby it may be known that it is truly Israel...He is such
in whom there is no guile. And what did the Lord say, when He saw
Nathanael? "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." [5438] If
therefore he is a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile, those
tribes go up to Jerusalem, in whom there is no guile....Wherefore do
they go up? "To confess unto Thy Name, O Lord." It could not be more
nobly expressed. As pride presumeth, so doth humility confess. As he is
a presumer, who wishes to appear what he is not, so is he a confessor,
who does not wish that to be seen which himself is, and loves That
which He is. To this therefore do Israelites go up, in whom is no
guile, because they are truly Israelites, because in them is the
testimony of Israel.
9. "For there were seated seats for judgment" (ver. 5). This is a
wonderful riddle, a wonderful question, if it be not understood. He
calleth those seats, which the Greeks call thrones. The Greeks call
chairs thrones, as a term of honour. Therefore, my brethren, it is not
wonderful if even we should sit on seats, or chairs; but that these
seats themselves should sit, when shall we be able to understand this?
As if some one should say: let stools or chairs sit here. We sit on
chairs, we sit on seats, we sit on stools; the seats themselves sit
not. What then meaneth this, "For there were seated seats for
judgment"?...If therefore heaven be the seat of God, and the Apostles
are heaven; they themselves are become the seat of God, the throne of
God. It is said in another passage: [5439] "The soul of the righteous
is the throne of wisdom." A great truth, a great truth, is declared;
the throne of wisdom is the soul of the righteous; that is, wisdom
sitteth in the soul of the righteous as it were in her chair, in her
throne, and thence judgeth whatsoever she judgeth. There were therefore
thrones of wisdom, and therefore the Lord said unto them, "Ye shall sit
upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." [5440] So
they also shall sit upon twelve seats, and they are themselves the
seats of God; for of them it is said, "For there were seated seats."
Who sat? "Seats." And who are the seats? They of whom it is said, "The
soul of the righteous is the seat of wisdom." Who are the seats? The
heavens. Who are the heavens? Heaven. What is heaven? That of which the
Lord saith, "Heaven is My seat." [5441] The righteous then themselves
are the seats; and have seats; and seats shall be seated in that
Jerusalem. For what purpose? "For judgment." Ye shall sit, He saith, on
twelve thrones, O ye thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Judging whom? Those who are below on earth. Who will judge? They who
have become heaven. But they who shall be judged, will be divided into
two bodies: one will be on the right hand, the other on the left...
10. He at once addeth, as unto the seats themselves, "Enquire ye the
things that are for the peace of Jerusalem" (ver. 6). O ye seats, who
now sit unto judgment, and are made the seats of the Lord who judgeth
(since they who judge, enquire; they who are judged, are enquired of),
"Enquire ye," he saith, "the things that are for the peace of
Jerusalem." What will they find by asking? That some have done deeds of
charity, that others have not. Those whom they shall find to have done
deeds of charity, they will summon them unto Jerusalem; for these deeds
are "for the peace of Jerusalem." Love is a powerful thing, my
brethren, love is a powerful thing. Do ye wish to see how powerful a
thing love is?...If charity be destitute of means, so that it cannot
find what to bestow upon the poor, let it love: let it give "one cup of
cold water;" [5442] as much shall be laid to its account, as to
Zaccheus who gave half his patrimony to the poor. [5443] Wherefore
this? The one gave so little, the other so much, and shall so much be
imputed to the former? Just so much. For though his resources are
unequal, his charity is not unequal.
11. ..."And plenteousness," he addeth, "for them that love thee." He
addresses Jerusalem herself, They have plenteousness who love her.
Plenteousness after want: here they are destitute, there they are
affluent; here they are weak, there they are strong; here they want,
there they are rich. How have they become rich? Because they gave here
what they received from God for a season, and received there what God
will afterwards pay back for evermore. Here, my brethren, even rich men
are poor. It is a good thing for a rich man to acknowledge himself
poor: for if he think himself full, that is mere puffing, not
plenteousness. Let him own himself empty, that he may be filled. What
hath he? Gold. What hath he not yet? Everlasting life. Let him consider
what he hath, and see what he hath not. Brethren, of that which he
hath, let him give, that he may receive what he hath not; let him
purchase out of that which he hath, that which he hath not, "and
plenteousness for them that love thee."
12. "Peace be in thy strength" (ver. 7). O Jerusalem, O city, who art
being built as a city, whose partaking is in "The Same:" "Peace be in
thy strength:" peace be in thy love; for thy strength is thy love. Hear
the Song of songs: "Love is strong as death." [5444] A great saying
that, brethren, "Love is strong as death." The strength of charity
could not be expressed in grander terms than these, "Love is strong as
death." For who resisteth death, my brethren? Consider, my brethren.
Fire, waves, the sword, are resisted: we resist principalities, we
resist kings; death cometh alone, who resisteth it? There is nought
more powerful than it. Charity therefore is compared with its strength,
in the words, "Love is strong as death." And since this love slayeth
what we have been, that we may be what we were not; love createth a
sort of death in us. This death he had died who said, "The world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world:" [5445] this death they had
died unto whom he said, "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ
in God." [5446] Love is strong as death...
13. Thus as he was here speaking of charity, he addeth, "For my
brethren and companions' sake, I spoke peace of thee" (ver. 8). O
Jerusalem, thou city whose partaking is in The Same, I in this life and
on this earth, I poor, he saith, I a stranger and groaning, not as yet
enjoying to the full thy peace, and preaching thy peace; preach it not
for my own sake, as the heretics, who seeking their own glory, say,
Peace be with you: and have not the peace which they preach to the
people. For if they had peace, they would not tear asunder unity. "I,"
he saith, "spoke peace of thee." But wherefore? "For my brethren and
companions' sake:" not for my own honour, not for my own money, not for
my life; for, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." But, "I
spoke peace of thee, for my brethren and companions' sakes." For he
wished to depart, and to be with Christ: but, since he must preach
these things to his companions and his brethren, to abide in the flesh,
he addeth, is more needful for you. [5447]
14. "Because of the house of the Lord my God, I have sought good things
for thee" (ver. 9). Not on my own account have sought good things, for
then I should not seek for thee, but for myself; and so should I not
have them, because I should not seek them for thee; but, "Because of
the house of the Lord my God," because of the Church, because of the
Saints, because of the pilgrims; because of the poor, that they may go
up; because we say to them, we will go into the house of the Lord:
because of the house of the Lord my God itself, I have sought good
things for Thee. These long and needful words gather ye, brethren, eat
them, drink them, and grow strong, run, and seize.
Let us pray in the words of Augustine.
Turn we to the Lord God, the Father Almighty, and with pure hearts offer to him, so far as our
meanness can, great and true thanks, with all our hearts praying his exceeding kindness, that of
his good pleasure he would deign to hear our prayers, that by his Power he would drive out the
enemy from our deeds and thoughts, that he would increase our faith, guide our understandings,
give us spiritual thoughts, and lead us to his bliss, through Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with him, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[A prayer which he was wont to use after his Sermons and Lectures.]
NPNF (V1-08) St. Augustine
Notes:
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[5423] Lat. CXXI. A discourse to the common people.
[5424] See on Ps. xxxix. p. 112, and on Ps. cxx. p. 589.
[5425] Or, "steps."
[5426] Ps. lxxxiv. 4.
[5427] Matt. xxiii. 37.
[5428] Gal. iv. 26.
[5429] 2 Cor. v. 1.
[5430] 1 Pet. ii. 5.
[5431] 1 Cor. iii. 17.
[5432] 1 Cor. iii. 11.
[5433] [Note this proof of the costly Christian architecture of this
age. The Basilica, however, was originally an imperial court turned
into a church.--C.]
[5434] Civitas.
[5435] In id ipsum.
[5436] Luke x. 30, 34.
[5437] Thirty, according to Liv. i. 13, Cic. De Rep. ii. 8; thirty-five
afterwards, according to Sext. Pomp. in v. Curia, who seems to confound
them with the "Tribes." See Pollet, Hist. For. Rom. in Poleni Supplem.
t. i. p. 516.
[5438] John i. 47.
[5439] [See p. 475, note 6. References there do not satisfy the Oxford
editor, and here he puts a mark of inquiry; thus, "--?"--C.]
[5440] Matt. xix. 28.
[5441] Isa. lxvi. 1.
[5442] Matt. x. 42.
[5443] Luke xix. 8.
[5444] Cant. viii. 6.
[5445] Gal. vi. 14.
[5446] Col. iii. 3.
[5447] Philip. i. 21, 23, 24.
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