"Late Have I Loved You"

St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, is best known for his conversion and discipleship.  Here is a man who lived a life most 'un-God-like, and became a great defender of the faith and seeker of the truth.  One of my favorite quotes, attribute to St. Augustine is :"Lord grant my chastity, but not yet."  Augustine realized his own weakness and admitted the need of grace and mercy from God.  As a theologian, Adam Trape in his text, Patrology, suggests that "Augustine is undoubtedly on of the greatest Fathers and on of the great geniuses of humanity whose influence on posterity has been continuous and profound."

Certainly our understanding of Baptism and its foundational significance has been built upon the writings and teachings of St. Augustine.  Using the philosophical understanding of the time, in addition to the writings of Origen and Cyprian, Augustine insisted on the baptism of children, as well as adults, based on this enlightened understanding of the grace associated with this initiation sacrament.  With St. Paul, St Augustine understood that this sacrament created a unit with the Body of Christ.  Salvation comes when we participate fully in the Paschal Mystery.

As a pastor Augustine was zealous in caring for the sick and the poor.  He established monasteries for men and reformed the clergy at the time.  He was known to be a powerful and persuasive preacher.  Perhaps because of his own brokenness, and the bad decisions he had made, Augustine preached often on the need for conversion and reconciliation.  He regularly defined himself as a 'servant of Christ,' and lived out his life in relationship with God, and others in this very context.  In one of his sermons he very bluntly stated, "I do not want to be saved without you."

Augustine certainly understood his need to love God and his people.  In his own experience he knew well of the Father's love and mercy, not only in a theological sense, but in his own body.  In the Collect today we pray that "We may thirst for you [God] alone as the fountain of wisdom and seek you as the source of eternal love."