Confessions - Book XI - Chapter Xxii
St. Augustine passionately seeks divine enlightenment to understand the mysteries of Scripture and the nature of time, expressing a deep longing for spiritual knowledge through prayer and faith.
In this devotional sermon, St. Augustine expresses his profound yearning for divine wisdom to unravel the complexities of Scripture and the enigma of time. He humbly acknowledges human limitations and earnestly prays for God's enlightening mercy through Christ. This sermon invites listeners to embrace faith as the foundation for spiritual understanding and to patiently seek the joys of the Lord despite life's fleeting nature.
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28. My soul burns ardently to understand this most intricate enigma. O Lord my God, O good Father, I beseech thee through Christ, do not close off these things, both the familiar and the obscure, from my desire. Do not bar it from entering into them; but let their light dawn by thy enlightening mercy, O Lord. Of whom shall I inquire about these things? And to whom shall I confess my ignorance of them with greater profit than to thee, to whom these studies of mine (ardently longing to understand thy Scriptures) are not a bore? Give me what I love, for I do love it; and this thou hast given me. O Father, who truly knowest how to give good gifts to thy children, give this to me. Grant it, since I have undertaken to understand it, and hard labor is my lot until thou openest it. I beseech thee, through Christ and in his name, the Holy of Holies, let no man interrupt me. \"For I have believed, and therefore do I speak.\"[438] This is my hope; for this I live: that I may contemplate the joys of my Lord.[439] Behold, thou hast made my days grow old, and they pass away--and how I do not know.
We speak of this time and that time, and these times and those times: \"How long ago since he said this?\" \"How long ago since he did this?\" \"How long ago since I saw that?\" \"This syllable is twice as long as that single short syllable.\" These words we say and hear, and we are understood and we understand. They are quite commonplace and ordinary, and still the meaning of these very same things lies deeply hid and its discovery is still to come.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Desire for Understanding
- Expresses ardent longing to comprehend divine mysteries
- Acknowledges human ignorance and seeks God's mercy
- Prays for illumination through Christ
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II. The Complexity of Time
- Reflects on the passing of days and the concept of time
- Contemplates the hidden meaning behind ordinary words
- Recognizes the limits of human understanding
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III. Faith as the Foundation
- Declares belief as the basis for speaking and seeking truth
- Holds hope in contemplating the joys of the Lord
- Endures labor and patience until divine revelation
Key Quotes
“My soul burns ardently to understand this most intricate enigma.” — St. Augustine
“Give me what I love, for I do love it; and this thou hast given me.” — St. Augustine
“For I have believed, and therefore do I speak.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Approach Scripture with a humble heart and a prayerful spirit seeking divine insight.
- Recognize the limits of human understanding and trust in God's timing for revelation.
- Let faith empower your pursuit of spiritual truths and sustain you through challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is St. Augustine seeking in this sermon?
He is seeking divine enlightenment to understand the mysteries of Scripture and the nature of time.
Why does Augustine emphasize prayer in his quest for understanding?
Because he believes that true knowledge comes from God’s mercy and illumination through Christ.
How does Augustine describe human understanding of time?
He describes it as limited and acknowledges that the true meaning of time remains deeply hidden.
What role does faith play in Augustine’s approach?
Faith is the foundation that enables him to speak, hope, and patiently seek divine truths.
What is the significance of the phrase 'For I have believed, and therefore do I speak'?
It highlights that belief empowers Augustine to pursue and share spiritual understanding.