The Feast of St Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

"Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away." (Matthew 25: 14 - 30).

Saturday 28th August 2021, 21st Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Augustine. (354 - 430). African. Bishop, Doctor of the Church. Son of St Monica and Patricius.
Augustine was a prodigal in his youth. He kept a mistress for many years. He belonged to the heretical sect, the Manichaens for years. Monica shed bitter tears for his conversion and waited on God for many years before it happened.   St Augustine was baptized by St Ambrose of Milan, the great Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
St Augustine is a prolific writer and without doubt one of the greatest doctors of the Church. His greatest works are: THE CONFESSIONS and THE CITY OF GOD.
His influence on Church doctrine has not diminished with time. He is vastly quoted in the Documents of Second Vatican Council.

Our Gospel for today is the Parable of the Talents. God gives everyone gifts of time, talent and treasure according to His merciful and mysterious Providence for each human being. God demands an accounting at the end of the Ages for the use of the talents.
The wise and diligent who used their gifts well will hear from the Supreme Judge of all mankind:
"Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy."

The lazy and delinquent will hear:
"You wicked, lazy servant!....
"Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

Our saint of today, St Augustine is an exceptional genius. The solidity and integrity of his teaching was irrefutable. During the Reformation debacle of the 16th century, the reformers try to pick and choose from Augustine's many doctrines.  Augustine is known as the Doctor of Grace. They claimed the Catholic Church abandoned the truth of the Gospel.
Ask yourself:  How can the Catholic Church abandon its mission and survive for 2000 years? Show me any other institution on earth that abandoned its mission and survived for 50 years. St Augustine is one of the greatest apologist of the divine institution of the Catholic Church.
Jesus' promise that the gates of hell will never prevail against the Church is ironclad.

St Augustine is the patron saint of printers and theologians.

Quotes from St Augustine:
"God who created you without your cooperation will not save you without your cooperation" (Sermon 169, 11).
"Our entire life on earth should take the form of praise of God, for the never-ending joy of our future life consists in praising God, and no one can become fit for that future life unless he trains himself to render that praise now". (Enarrationes in Psalmos, 148).

"O God, You have made us for Yourself. Our hearts are restless till they rest in You."

Jesus says to the mystic:
"Conversions that are sudden and excessive are not My habitual way of leading souls in the way of holiness. I prefer to see souls advance by little steps along a way of spiritual childhood, trusting in Me to bring them to Calvary and to the fullness of joy in My presence and in the presence of My Father." (IN SINU JESU page 189).

St Augustine, pray for us.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com