THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
You have listened to the psalm, dear friends, as it was conveyed: it is concise and somewhat cryptic, as if assuring you that weariness need not cause fear. The psalm bears the title ‘A Psalm of Confession.’ Although its verses are limited in number, they explore significant themes; may the truth take root in your hearts and prepare the storehouse for the Lord's harvest. Therefore, exult in the Lord, all the earth, Psalm 99:1. This psalm calls us to rejoice in the Lord. It does not single out a specific place or community; rather, it recognizes that it has sown good among all and spreads joy universally. Does the entire earth listen to my voice at this moment? Nevertheless, the earth has indeed heard that voice. The entire earth already rejoices in the Lord, and all that currently does not rejoice will do so, for the blessings that began to flow from Jerusalem to all nations, Luke 24:47, dismantle wickedness and cultivate righteousness everywhere. The good intermingle with the wicked across all lands. Each nation carries the dissatisfaction of the wicked alongside the joy of the righteous. What, then, is the cause for rejoicing? The title of this psalm calls for our attention, particularly as it is labeled ‘A Psalm of Confession.’ What does it mean to find joy in confession? This sentiment is echoed in another psalm: Blessed are the people who understand rejoicing. Surely, that which understanding blesses is of substantial importance. Therefore, let us seek to understand the essence of our joy and refrain from expressing it mindlessly. What value is there in rejoicing and obeying the directive of this psalm, which states ‘Rejoice in the Lord, all the earth,’ without grasping the significance of that joy? It may lead to vocal exuberance, but if our hearts do not partake, then understanding is necessary; it is the heart's voice that truly matters.
I will articulate what you are already aware of. One who rejoices does not merely utter words; rather, he expresses joy through unvoiced sounds, which stem from an overflow of emboldened sentiment, conveying affection without entangling the senses. When a person revels in their elation, they may erupt in inexpressible sounds, appearing as though they delight in their own voice, although they are captivated with overwhelming joy that words cannot encapsulate. Those most prone to joyful exclamations are often laborers in the fields; reapers, grape gatherers, or harvesters, full of joy over abundant yields, sing exultant songs. Amid their words is a spontaneous outpouring of jubilant noise arising from a merry mind; this encapsulates the essence of exultation.
When do we experience joy? We rejoice when we exalt that which surpasses expression. As we survey all of creation—the earth, the sea, and all beings within—we see their respective origins, functions, lifeways, temporal limits, and finality in death, alongside the orderly patterns of time, with the stars traversing from East to West and measuring the years. We note the months and hours as they unfold; yet present in these phenomena is an unseen element—a principle, perhaps a soul or spirit—that animates life, prompting a pursuit of pleasure while seeking to evade pain and ensure self-preservation. Humanity shares in commonality with the angels of God, not in matters related to physical form but in our capacity to understand divine matters; we possess a mind that discerns righteousness from wrongdoing, as the eye distinguishes between colors.
In contemplating creation as comprehensively as possible, let the soul question its own existence: Who is the source of all creation? Who created these beings? Who among them claims to exist of their own accord? I have considered the physical world of heaven and earth and the spiritual within myself, which expresses itself and animates my being, granting me the capacity to speak, to voice thoughts, to sense experiences. When can I fully grasp my own essence? If understanding my own self poses a challenge, how much more is God beyond my comprehension? Yet, the human heart has been promised the vision of God, and sacred guidance from Scripture directs us to purify our hearts first; such is their counsel. Strive to see that which you love before seeking to behold it clearly. Who among us is not pleased to hear of God and His name, save for those who are wicked and distanced from Him?
Therefore, aspire to emulate Him in holiness and engage in profound contemplation; for His invisible attributes are discernible through the created world, Romans 1:20. Observe the creatures, marvel at them, and seek their Creator. Stride towards Him in likeness; should you reflect His nature, you will discover joy. As you draw nearer to Him and truly experience God, your love for Him will flourish, since God embodies love. You will begin to grasp a reality you once struggled to articulate. Before sensing God, you believed you could define Him; now, upon experiencing Him, you realize what you feel escapes expression. When you recognize that your feelings transcend what can be articulated, will you remain silent or will you not glorify God? Will you refrain from praising Him and withholding gratitude from the One who wished to reveal Himself to you? You exalted Him in pursuit; will you lapse into silence upon finding Him? Certainly not; it is ungrateful to do so. He is deserving of honor, awe, and profound praise. Reflect on your humble state; see what you really are: mere dust and ashes. Consider who is worthy of acknowledgment; ponder how remarkable it is for mankind to behold God! It is not the worthiness of humanity that merits this, but the mercy of God that restores us. Therefore, let us honor Him who bestows mercy.
Serve the Lord with joy. Bondage is laden with bitterness, and those bound by great chains are both enslaved and discontented. Do not fear the service of the Lord of Hosts; there exists no grief there, no discontentment, nor bitterness; none desires to serve another master, for it is a gracious favor since we have all been redeemed. It is a profound joy, dear friends, to be a servant in that great household, even if bound. Fear not, you who feel enslaved, but rather confess to the Lord: acknowledge that your burdens stem from your deeds; confess your chains if you desire them to transform into adornments. Simultaneously, you are both servant and free; servant by creation and free through the love of God, who brought you into existence; indeed, you are truly free when you love the Creator. Serve not with discontent; your grumbling does not liberate you but rather marks you as an unfaithful servant. You are indeed a servant of the Lord, a freeborn child of the Lord; do not seek liberation, as you would leave the embrace of the One who redeems.
“I choose to dwell apart with just a few virtuous souls; why should I reside among the multitude?” Ah, but from where have these few good souls emerged? If they are all good, it reflects an admirable intention to seek tranquility away from the chaotic crowds of life, akin to a ship in a peaceful harbor. Is this the promised joyful bliss? Not yet; rather, it is fraught with groans and the anxieties of temptation. For even a harbor has points of entrance; otherwise, no vessel could find shelter therein. This entrance is open, allowing wind and tumultuous waves to intrude; even in a harbor, vessels may collide in tumultuous storms. Where, then, is safety, if even there it may not exist? Nonetheless, those in the harbor are indeed in a more favorable position than those adrift in the stormy seas. If they love one another like vessels anchored securely, they shall experience a mutual joy; may they not clash with one another, ensuring complete peace and love amidst their gathering. Should the winds arise, care must be taken in navigation. What might the one presiding over such places claim when engaged in service within so-called monasteries? “I shall exercise vigilance; evil shall not be permitted.” But how will you guard against the presence of evil? Those who come do not truly know themselves, how much less so will you understand them? Countless souls have pledged to walk a holy path, aspiring to live a life of sharing, uniting in spirit, as noted in Acts 4:32, yet they are subjected to trials, revealing cracks in their devotion. How, then, can you claim to know those who remain unknown even to themselves?
Safety is elusive in this life; it lies solely in the trust of God's promise. Yet, when we reach the fullness of that promise, and the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem close behind us, there shall be perfect security and endless joy. Be cautious, therefore; do not declare anyone blessed until that final hour of judgment. Thus, humanity often falls into deception, either refraining from pursuing a better life or recklessly striving for it. Those who criticize do so with envious hearts, blind to the good while only amplifying perceived evils. This leads to disillusionment with any profession of righteousness, for upon its reputation drawing them near, they often encounter contradiction and sin they wished not to see. Those who are offended by the wicked will turn from the good. Dear friends, apply this wisdom to your lives and heed it for the sake of living. The Church of God is exalted; it is Christians, and Christians alone, who are lauded; the Church of the Saints is lifted high, filled with love for one another, as all endeavor for each other’s well-being, encompassing prayer, fasting, and hymns of praise, united in joyful harmony across the world in the glorification of God.
Perhaps some hear this who remain unaware that none of these praises apply to the wicked among them. Lured by the exaltation, they may find themselves in a congregation mixed with those whose nature runs contrary to the praise they expected. Offended by false Christians, they may flee from true believers. Likewise, adversaries hastily accuse, “What kind of individuals are Christians? What sort of people are they?” They often cite selfishness and usury as characteristics of Christians. Are not those who fill the sanctuaries at feasts the same as those who crowd theaters and arenas for spectacles? They may indeed possess those qualities, yet they are not the only ones. This slanderer, in his ignorance, overlooks the righteous, while the praiser, in his negligence, omits the sinful.
So too is life in the communal existence of a monastery: there live great and virtuous individuals who engage in daily hymns, prayers, and offerings to God; whose labors of reading and earnest toil support their lives, seeking no selfish gain. All that is shared among them is used in charity and satisfaction; none claim what belongs to another; all embody love and mutual tolerance. You have lauded their virtues; those who remain ignorant of the inner workings assume them to be faultless. Yet, when the winds of trial intrude, ships in the harbor may collide; seeking refuge, they expect none will hold back from love, only to discover disruptors among them, who, if tolerated, cannot be easily excluded—thereby creating impatience born of misunderstanding. Who brought me here? I thought love reigned here. Offended by the faults of a few, those who fail to uphold their calling abandon what is holy and heedless of their promises. Upon leaving, they often become reproachers and detractors, highlighting only those experiences they imagine to be unbearable. But we must bear the wrongdoings of the wicked for the sake of remaining in the company of the good. Scripture warns, Woe to them who lose patience, Ecclesiasticus 2:16, and they may vent their wrath to dissuade others from entering, for what they cannot endure will compel them to deter others from joining the fold.
What is their nature? Envious, irritable souls who tolerate none; the greedy, who say, “He did this there, and that here.” Yet, wicked one, why do you remain silent about the good? You condemn those whose shortcomings you cannot bear, offering no acknowledgment of those who endured your failings.