Confessions - Book XI - Chapter XI
St. Augustine explores the nature of God's eternal wisdom, contrasting the fleeting nature of time with the unchanging presence of eternity.
In this profound exposition, St. Augustine delves into the nature of God's eternal wisdom and the human struggle to comprehend it. He contrasts the fleeting, sequential nature of time with the unchanging, simultaneous presence of eternity. Augustine invites listeners to fix their hearts on the eternal God, recognizing that true understanding comes from divine illumination and spiritual focus.
Text
13. Those who say these things do not yet understand thee, O Wisdom of God, O Light of souls. They do not yet understand how the things are made that are made by and in thee. They endeavor to comprehend eternal things, but their heart still flies about in the past and future motions of created things, and is still unstable. Who shall hold it and fix it so that it may come to rest for a little; and then, by degrees, glimpse the glory of that eternity which abides forever; and then, comparing eternity with the temporal process in which nothing abides, they may see that they are incommensurable? They would see that a long time does not become long, except from the many separate events that occur in its passage, which cannot be simultaneous. In the Eternal, on the other hand, nothing passes away, but the whole is simultaneously present. But no temporal process is wholly simultaneous. Therefore, let it[431] see that all time past is forced to move on by the incoming future; that all the future follows from the past; and that all, past and future, is created and issues out of that which is forever present. Who will hold the heart of man that it may stand still and see how the eternity which always stands still is itself neither future nor past but expresses itself in the times that are future and past? Can my hand do this, or can the hand of my mouth bring about so difficult a thing even by persuasion?
Sermon Outline
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I. The Challenge of Understanding Divine Wisdom
- Human hearts are unstable and distracted by temporal things
- People struggle to grasp eternal realities
- The need for divine help to fix the heart's gaze on eternity
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II. The Nature of Time Versus Eternity
- Time is a sequence of passing events
- Eternity is a simultaneous, unchanging present
- Temporal past and future are created from the eternal present
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III. The Human Heart's Quest for Rest
- The heart longs to stand still and perceive eternity
- Comparison between fleeting time and abiding eternity
- The difficulty and necessity of spiritual focus
Key Quotes
“They do not yet understand thee, O Wisdom of God, O Light of souls.” — St. Augustine
“A long time does not become long, except from the many separate events that occur in its passage, which cannot be simultaneous.” — St. Augustine
“The eternity which always stands still is itself neither future nor past but expresses itself in the times that are future and past.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Seek to steady your heart by focusing on God's eternal presence rather than temporal distractions.
- Reflect on the fleeting nature of time to appreciate the permanence of God's wisdom.
- Pray for divine illumination to better understand spiritual and eternal realities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Augustine mean by eternity?
Augustine describes eternity as a timeless, unchanging present where all moments exist simultaneously, unlike temporal time which is sequential.
Why is the human heart unstable according to Augustine?
Because it is distracted by past and future events in time and struggles to fix itself on the eternal wisdom of God.
How can one begin to understand eternal things?
By gradually fixing the heart on God's eternal presence and comparing it with the fleeting nature of temporal events.
What role does divine wisdom play in this understanding?
Divine wisdom is the source and light of souls, enabling humans to comprehend the eternal beyond temporal limitations.