Confessions - Book I - Chapter II
St. Augustine reflects on the omnipresence of God and the profound mystery of God's indwelling within the believer.
In this devotional reflection, St. Augustine meditates on the profound mystery of God's omnipresence and the intimate relationship between God and the human soul. He challenges believers to consider how the infinite God can dwell within finite beings and explores the biblical truth that God fills all creation. Augustine’s insights invite a deeper appreciation of God's presence in every aspect of existence.
Text
2. And how shall I call upon my God--my God and my Lord? For when I call on him I ask him to come into me. And what place is there in me into which my God can come? How could God, the God who made both heaven and earth, come into me? Is there anything in me, O Lord my God, that can contain thee? Do even the heaven and the earth, which thou hast made, and in which thou didst make me, contain thee? Is it possible that, since without thee nothing would be which does exist, thou didst make it so that whatever exists has some capacity to receive thee? Why, then, do I ask thee to come into me, since I also am and could not be if thou wert not in me? For I am not, after all, in hell--and yet thou art there too, for \"if I go down into hell, thou art there.\"[11] Therefore I would not exist--I would simply not be at all--unless I exist in thee, from whom and by whom and in whom all things are. Even so, Lord; even so. Where do I call thee to, when I am already in thee? Or from whence wouldst thou come into me? Where, beyond heaven and earth, could I go that there my God might come to me--he who hath said, \"I fill heaven and earth\"?[12]
Sermon Outline
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I
- Questioning how God can come into the human heart
- Acknowledging God's creation of heaven and earth
- Reflecting on the capacity of the human soul to contain God
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II
- Exploring the omnipresence of God in all creation
- Considering that existence itself depends on God’s presence
- Recognizing that God is present even in hell
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III
- Contemplating the paradox of calling God to come when already in Him
- Understanding that God fills heaven and earth
- Accepting the mystery of God’s indwelling beyond physical space
Key Quotes
“How could God, the God who made both heaven and earth, come into me?” — St. Augustine
“I would simply not be at all—unless I exist in thee, from whom and by whom and in whom all things are.” — St. Augustine
“Where, beyond heaven and earth, could I go that there my God might come to me—he who hath said, 'I fill heaven and earth'?” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize that God is always present in your life, even when you feel distant.
- Reflect on your own capacity to welcome God’s presence within your heart.
- Embrace the mystery of God’s indwelling as a source of comfort and strength.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does St. Augustine mean by God’s omnipresence?
He means that God is present everywhere, filling heaven, earth, and even hell, and that nothing exists apart from Him.
How can God come into a person if He is already everywhere?
Augustine reflects on the mystery that while God is omnipresent, believers still seek a personal indwelling and relationship with Him.
Why does Augustine question the place God can come into?
He wonders about the human soul’s capacity to contain the infinite God who created all things.
What biblical references support this sermon?
Psalm 139:7 and Jeremiah 23:24 are cited to illustrate God’s omnipresence.