Homily Feast of St. Augustine

Homily Feast of St. Augustine

Do people really undergo dramatic change in their lives? If we really are pessimistic about that we need only reflect on the life of St. Augustine.  Augustine had many a change of heart in his life.

As a youngster Augustine was never baptized even though his mother was a Christian (St. Monica).  In the time of Augustine (the 4^th century) it was thought that baptism should wait.  It was the only sacrament to provide absolution for sin.  The Pastoral Theology of the time said that it was best to let the young make their mistakes and then when they grew older, they could commit to Christ.

Augustine certainly made some interesting choices in his early life.  At a young age of seventeen he began to live with a concubine.  He had a child with her.  He led the life of a professional student of philosophy.  He drifted from one belief to another.  For a long while he was in the Manichean cult.  Manichaeans believed that the material world was evil.  Salvation came through knowledge. You either lived in the light or in the darkness.

Augustine continued to search. He became disenchanted with the Manichaeans.  He interacted with more and more Christians. He supported himself by teaching philosophy.  He ended his relationship with his concubine only to start to live with another woman.

One day he heard St. Ambrose preaching.  He struck up a relationship with him and was impressed with his knowledge and holiness. Eventually he was baptized.  He reformed his life.  He began a monastic life, moved to Africa where he was born.  He was appointed Bishop of Hippo and he became famous for his pastoral zeal, especially among the poor.  He is revered today as one of the most influential Christian philosophers of all time.

Reflection:

1. Augustine seemed to have been pretty narcissistic as a young man. Perhaps he was a bit of an intellectual snob.  Have I known someone who thought they were too smart to be religious?
   1. Augustine had the ability to change his mind and to be open to learning new things. Are people reluctant to grow and to change?  Do I listen to different points of view than by own?

 

Dear Parishioners,

It has been a very difficult two weeks for our nation. It seems like the political conventions have divided our country more than ever.  Why can’t we talk and listen to each other?  Usually, arguments are made worse when

  judgments are made.  We hear politicians say today that their opponents are evil or that they have no faith. We hear that God is on our side and not on the other side, etc.

          When we hear such rhetoric, this ends any conversation.  Once we brand someone as evil or we question their belief in God this infers that if we interact with them, we are cooperating with evil.

          The truth of the matter is, that choices are evil, but people at their core seldom are.  We can criticize policies, but we should refrain from sitting in judgement on another person.  Only God can judge whether a person is good or evil and whether they are worthy of salvation.

          Let’s pray that some day soon we will return to a political discourse that allow opposing sides to debate issues rather than pass judgment on individuals.

          Our Lord usually looked at people’s hearts.  He was slow to judge and rich in mercy.  If we say we follow Christ we must try to operate the same way.

May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.

Fr. Mark