Daily Bible Verse 101: The Feast of St Augustine. Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

Sunday, August 27, 2023

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

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

"Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’

"Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred?

"And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it;

"One who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.” (Matthew 23: 13 - 22).

Monday August 28th 2023 of the 21st Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.(354 - 430). African. Bishop, Doctor of the Church.

St Augustine was the son of St Monica (feast day August 27th) 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.

Here is what Jesus said to the crowds and His disciples in today's Gospel:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves."

The sharp words of Jesus lead us to reflect on the Power of Example.

Bad example

corrupts.

Good example edifies.

St Augustine, our hero today secretly admired the saintly qualities of his mother, St Monica.

St Rose of Lima read the life of St Catherine of Siena and became fired up by her zeal for evangelization.

St Ignatius Loyola while recovering from a serious wound from war read the life of St Francis of Assisi and became highly motivated to do for Jesus what Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscans did.

Ignatius underwent a profound conversion, did adult education and became the founder of the Society of Jesus.

If you are a teacher in the Church: Bishop, priest, catechist or theologian, you must shudder when you read the words of Jesus in today's Gospel:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves."

"Until now, the precious grace of Eucharistic adoration has remained unknown to far too many of My priests. This accounts for the weaknesses, the scandals, the shame, and the falling away of so many. The world has grown cold, and it will become even more cold as the darkness of the Enemy enfolds it and turns to ice the hearts that I consecrated to be for Me hearts of love." (IN SINU JESU page 216).

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."