St. Augustine reflects on the nature of God's presence within human memory and the soul, emphasizing God's immutable and transcendent dwelling beyond physical and emotional faculties.
In this devotional reflection from Confessions Book X, St. Augustine meditates on the mysterious presence of God within human memory and the soul. He explores how God transcends physical images and mutable emotions, yet chooses to dwell within the inner recesses of the mind. Augustine invites listeners to consider the sacredness of memory as a sanctuary for divine presence and the unchanging nature of God amidst human experience.
Text
36. But where in my memory dost thou abide, O Lord? Where dost thou dwell there? What sort of lodging hast thou made for thyself there? What kind of sanctuary hast thou built for thyself? Thou hast done this honor to my memory to take up thy abode in it, but I must consider further in what part of it thou dost abide. For in calling thee to mind, I soared beyond those parts of memory which the beasts also possess, because I did not find thee there among the images of corporeal things. From there I went on to those parts where I had stored the remembered affections of my mind, and I did not find thee there. And I entered into the inmost seat of my mind, which is in my memory, since the mind remembers itself also--and thou wast not there. For just as thou art not a bodily image, nor the emotion of a living creature (such as we feel when we rejoice or are grief-stricken, when we desire, or fear, or remember, or forget, or anything of that kind), so neither art thou the mind itself. For thou art the Lord God of the mind and of all these things that are mutable; but thou abidest immutable over all. Yet thou hast elected to dwell in my memory from the time I learned of thee. But why do I now inquire about the part of my memory thou dost dwell in, as if indeed there were separate parts in it? Assuredly, thou dwellest in it, since I have remembered thee from the time I learned of thee, and I find thee in my memory when I call thee to mind.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Inquiry into God's Dwelling
- Questioning where God abides within memory
- Exploring the nature of God's lodging in the soul
- Recognizing God's honor in choosing to dwell in memory
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II. Distinguishing God from Physical and Emotional Images
- God is not found among corporeal images
- God transcends emotions and mutable mental states
- God is not the mind itself but sovereign over it
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III. The Immutability and Transcendence of God
- God abides immutable over all mutable things
- God's presence is beyond the divisions of memory
- The soul's recognition of God's abiding presence
Key Quotes
“Thou hast done this honor to my memory to take up thy abode in it.” — St. Augustine
“Thou art not a bodily image, nor the emotion of a living creature.” — St. Augustine
“Thou abidest immutable over all.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Reflect on the sacredness of your own memory as a place where God can dwell.
- Recognize that God transcends your emotions and thoughts but remains present within you.
- Seek to experience God's immutable presence beyond the changing circumstances of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does St. Augustine say God dwells within us?
He suggests that God dwells in the memory and the inmost seat of the mind, though not as a physical or emotional image.
Why does Augustine emphasize God's immutability?
To highlight that God is unchanging and transcends all mutable aspects of human experience like emotions and thoughts.
Does Augustine equate God with the mind or emotions?
No, he clearly distinguishes God from the mind and emotions, affirming God as sovereign over them but not identical to them.
What is the significance of God choosing to dwell in memory?
It honors human memory as a sacred place where God can be recalled and experienced spiritually.
