THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
**Rewritten Text:**
Bless the Lord, O my soul! And may all that is within me praise His holy name (Psalm 101:1). I believe the psalmist does not refer to the physical body alone; I do not think he intends for our lungs and liver to vocalize blessings directly. While it is true that our lungs create sound as they exhale air, this is not the essence of the message. This speaks to the inner ear of humanity. God, too, possesses the ability to hear; the heart has a voice as well. When a person turns inward to bless God, they proclaim, ‘All that is within me bless His holy name!’ What is it that lies within us? It is our very soul. Thus, when we say, ‘All that is within me bless His holy name,’ it reiterates the earlier proclamation, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” as the act of blessing is inherent. Shout joyfully if there is anyone to listen; remain silent when no one can hear; never neglect what is within you. The act of blessing has already echoed from our lips as we have uttered the words. We sang as long as we could, and when the time was up, we became silent. However, should our hearts remain silent in their praise of the Lord? Let our voices occasionally raise Him in blessing, but let the voice of our hearts resonate eternally. When you gather to sing a hymn in church, your voice is an instrument of praise to God. After leaving church, let your soul continue to offer praise to God. As you engage in your daily tasks, let your soul honor Him. As you share a meal, remember the apostle’s words: Whether you eat or drink, do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Even as you sleep, may your soul still give thanks to the Lord. Allow no thoughts of wrongdoing to stir you, nor scheming and corrupt dealings to awaken you. Even in your sleep, let your innocence echo the voice of your soul.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits (Psalm 102:2). However, you cannot perceive the Lord’s rewards unless you also recognize your sins. Allow the conviction of sin to inform your perspective, rather than the joy of past sin; remember your own faults, but also God’s forgiveness. In this way, you can express gratitude by asking, “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness toward me?” This is the perspective of the martyrs we honor today and all the saints who rejected worldly pleasures. As we read in the epistle of St. John, they laid down their lives for their brethren, reflecting the perfection of love (1 John 3:16). Our Lord stated: “There is no greater love than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). These saints despised their earthly lives to attain eternal life, adhering to the Lord’s words, “Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Thus, do not forget the Lord’s rewards—indeed, not just rewards, but abundant rewards. Our wrongs are met not justly but with grace, which leads to the question, “What can I give back to the Lord for all His rewards?” You have repaid good with evil; yet, God repays evil with goodness. Reflect on how you have rewarded your Creator with evil acts in light of His goodness. You who were once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an assailant (1 Timothy 1:13), do you remember being recompensed for such blasphemies? How can you repay Him? First, understand that simply existing is a gift; and being alive is also a gift, yet even the beasts share in this existence. What shall you offer God for creating you in His image, above all creature? (Genesis 1:26-27) Seek not to provide Him with something He does not need; instead, return His image to Him—this is what He desires; this is the true offering He seeks (Matthew 22:21).
Contemplate, O soul, the plethora of God’s rewards, especially when considering your own misdeeds. For every transgression you hold, He holds a matching reward of goodness. What can you give Him? What offering could suffice? You ponder and find that only the cup of salvation is fitting. Yet, did not the Lord Himself grant us this very cup? Reward Him from within yourself, if you are able; but do not do so, for such effort only leads to yielding sin. Everything you possess is from Him; your sins remain entirely your burden. God desires no repayment from your own, as He acts from His infinite grace. If you were to bring a sprig of wheat to a farmer from his own harvest, you would essentially offer him something of his own, as if he needed such recompense. Instead, give praise truthfully and honor the Lord sincerely. To reward the truth is to speak of His righteousness; conversely, to reward out of your own is to utter a falsehood (John 8:44). Understand that accepting the cup of salvation means embracing the Lord's journey firsthand. I shall accept the cup of Christ, as I partake in His passion. Ensure you do not falter. Those who strayed did not call upon the Lord; they trusted in their own abilities. Return to the Source, acknowledging that you give back what you have first received. Let your soul bless the Lord, remembering all His rewards.
Hear of His rewards: He forgives all your wrongdoing; He heals all your maladies (Psalm 101:3). Consider the nature of His rewards. What did a sinner truly deserve but punishment? What was the fate of a blasphemer if not eternal damnation? He has strayed from such vengeance that you might not fear and might come to Him in love instead. Yet, despite our sinfulness, God offers forgiveness: He heals all of your afflictions. Do not be disheartened at the weight of your troubles; you might think them overwhelming, but the Physician is mightier still. There is no infirmity so great that the Almighty cannot heal; just submit yourself to His care. You will rejoice not only when He uplifts you, but also as He operates on you, granting you healing through the discomfort of remedy. Do not linger in doubt; His promises of healing are steadfast and true. While a human physician may err in his treatments and fail, God, who created both your body and soul, seeks only to restore, ensuring no need goes unmet.
Who redeems your life from destruction? (Psalm 101:4) Understand this: a decaying body bears down the soul (Wisdom 9:15). What manner of life is that, one that bears burdens? How often do distractions prevent us from genuinely considering the divine amid our struggles? The myriad of worldly distractions can bombard our minds, swarming like maggots in places of decay. We have highlighted the severity of this affliction; let us not neglect to extol the Great Healer. Would not the one who designed us for wellness seek to heal us, if we heeded the call to embrace the ways of health He has imparted? Focus first on your own well-being. Often, one can find ailments even in their own abode that challenge their perception of health; as they lie afflicted and unable to manage their domestic matters, friends urge them to prioritize recovery. This is a message for all: if you find yourself healthy, consider the health of another; if your own ailment indicates you are indeed sick, prioritizing your health must come first. Christ is your healer; thus, seek Him fervently. Embrace the cup of His saving grace, which mends all your ills; if you desire this healing, it will be yours. For your life has been redeemed from ruin; be at peace now, for the covenant is sealed; rest assured, your Redeemer cannot be outsmarted or oppressed. He has made the exchange and has paid the price with His own blood—the only-begotten Son of God shed His blood for us; arise, O soul, for your worth is immeasurable.
He crowns you with compassion and lovingkindness. Perhaps you may feel prideful upon hearing ‘He crowns you’; yet, where lies your strength? It is not of your own making; He crowns you with His blessings rather than your achievements. The Apostle declared, “I labored more than any of them,” yet he adds, “but not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Thus, by His grace, you will be honored; let nothing inflate your pride; sing praises to the Lord, and do not forget His innumerable blessings. It is a reward to be called to righteousness, even as a sinner. It is a reward to be raised and guided, to endure until the end. It is a reward to know that even your frail body, which has endured trials, will be resurrected, that not a single hair shall be lost. It is a reward to receive eternal praise from God Himself, unceasing, forevermore.
After the struggle, I will receive my crown; after receiving the crown, what shall I do? He satisfies your desires with good things (Psalm 102:5). Seek the good, O soul. Each creature has its own goodness; for one being, something may be good, while for another, something else may serve their need, as each creature yearns for fulfillment according to its nature. There exists a distinction in what each imperfect thing requires to attain completion. Seek the good for yourselves; yet recognize that the only true good is found in God (Matthew 19:17). The ultimate goodness lies at the heart of your being. What does the highest good lack? For each being has lesser goods that together serve their well-being. What, dear friends, benefits cattle? Fulfillment lies in satisfying hunger, comfort, rest, enjoying life, well-being, and reproduction; these forms of goodness also carry a measure of divine permission from the Creator of all. Are these your pursuits? God provides these, too, but do not make them your sole focus. Can a fellow heir of the kingdom find satisfaction in the welfare of cattle? Place your hopes in the source of the ultimate good. He brings you goodness, through whom you were created, and through whom everything has received its goodness—indeed, God made all things very good.
When will my desires be fulfilled? When, you might ask? Your youth will be revitalized like the eagle’s. You ponder when your soul will breathe in abundance of God’s goodness. When will your youth be renewed? Even the eagle, though in its prime, is burdened by time. The imagery serves as a profound metaphor of resurrection. While the eagle regains youth, it will not achieve immortality; rather, this analogy reflects the mortal striving toward the eternal, signifying life beyond. The eagle, as it matures, faces the inability to eat due to its beak's unnatural growth. In its old age, the beak can grow excessively, forcing it into a state of weakness and struggle. Seeking renewal, the eagle strikes its beak against a stone to rid itself of the excess, allowing it to eat once again. After this renewal, it soars high once more, reminiscent of resurrection. This mirrors the moon’s cycle—after it wanes, it eventually becomes full again. This symbolizes the resurrection: though its fullness does not remain permanent, its returning cycle signifies hope. Similarly, the eagle's rejuvenation is not its transition to immortality but recalls the renewal we all yearn for—our lives restored in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), our youth renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord executes mercy and justice for those oppressed by unrighteousness (Psalm 102:6). Consider the example: the woman caught in adultery, brought forth to be punished under the Law, yet she was presented to the very Lawgiver. Our Lord, as she was led before Him, bowed His head and wrote in the dust. Lowering Himself to the ground, He revealed His intentions. The earth represented that which is able to produce fruit—a fertile ground for grace—while the stone signified the rigidity that the Law can impose. Yonder came the accusers, intent on judgment, yet His response calmed the storm: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7). As He again bowed to write, no accuser came forward; it was not the frail woman who was condemned, but their own sinful awareness that retreated in shame. They intended to judge, but before the Rock, their intended condemnation was overturned.