THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Bless the Lord, my soul! Let all that is within me honor His sacred name. Psalm 101:1. The Psalmist isn't referring to the physical aspects of our being—it's not that our lungs or other organs should erupt with words that bless the Lord. Our lungs enable us to breathe and produce sound, yet the expression here transcends mere physiological function and speaks to the ears of men. God possesses ears, and the heart itself has a voice. A person reflects inwardly, prompting all within them to bless God, proclaiming: "Let all that is in me bless His holy name!" This echoes the earlier declaration: “Bless the Lord, my soul!” since the word "bless" is implicit. Raise your voice in praise if there are those who will listen; remain silent if no one hears, but never cease the internal praise that resides within. Consequently, we have already offered our blessing with our words. We sang as long as we could, only to fall silent afterward. Shall our hearts too refrain from blessing the Lord? Allow the sound of our voices to bless Him in rhythm, while the voice of our hearts remains unceasing. When you gather in worship to sing hymns, let your voice be filled with praise to God. Even after you leave the assembly, let your soul continue to honor Him. In your daily work, let your soul exalt Him. As you dine, remember the Apostle’s words: “Whether you eat or drink, do all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. Indeed, even in sleep, let your soul bless the Lord. Allow not thoughts of wrongdoing to stir your spirit, nor let schemes for deceit disturb you. Your very innocence, even in slumber, is the voice of your soul.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits. Psalm 102:2. However, the blessings of the Lord cannot be acknowledged unless one first recognizes their own sins. Do not dwell in the joy of past wrongs, but allow the conviction of your failings to be ever present: your remorse against sin, God’s forgiveness. The Lord recompenses you that you may ask, “How can I repay the Lord for all His wonderful deeds toward me?” Such thoughts are shared by martyrs (whose sacrifices we honor today) and all the saints who valued eternal life over earthly existence, as you heard in the epistle of St. John, who laid down their lives for their brothers—a testament to the fullness of love, 1 John 3:16. Our Lord also instructs, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13. Therefore, these holy martyrs, contemplating eternal rewards, deemed this life of little value in light of the life to come, adhering to the words of our Lord, who taught: “He who loves his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it unto eternal life…” Remember, He says, do not forget all His benefits: not just blessings but rewards born from grace. How, then, have you repaid the Lord? You have reciprocated evil for good. You, who once were a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an oppressor, have returned curses for His blessings. For what reward can you offer? Firstly, because you exist; yet even the livestock share this. You live, yet don’t cattle also live? What will you present to God for having made you in His own image and likeness? Genesis 1:26-27. Do not seek to recompense Him; return to Him the likeness He granted you—for this is all He desires.
Reflect, O soul, on all of God’s blessings while considering your wrongdoings. As numerous as your sins, so numerous are His gracious rewards. What offering can you present to Him? What can you give back to the Lord? For in contemplation, you may find you cannot offer anything. “I will take the cup of salvation!” But wasn’t this cup given by the Lord Himself? Would you repay Him with something of your own? No, do not attempt that; He does not desire rewards that originate from you, for all you possess is from Him—only your sins belong to you. He wishes for you to give back from His generosity. If you bring an ear of grain to the farmer from the land he has cultivated, you are giving from what was his, not your creation; similarly, if you choose to give thorns, you forfeit true rewards. Honor truth, and sincerely praise the Lord; when you give with selfish intent, you deceive. “He who speaks a lie speaks from his own,” John 8:44, whereas he who speaks truth speaks the Lord’s. Embracing the cup of salvation means imitating Christ’s passion, saying, “I will partake of the cup of Christ; I will share in the sufferings of the Lord.” Be cautious that you do not stray, for those who falter did not call upon the Lord but relied on their own strength. Return, remembering you are merely returning what you received. So may your soul bless the Lord, ensuring that you do not forget His benefits.
Consider all His rewards. He forgives all your iniquities; He heals all your diseases. Psalm 101:3. Ponder His blessings. What could a sinner expect beyond the consequences of sin? What was due to the blasphemer but eternal damnation? Yet He does not issue such penalties; He does not wish you to be gripped by fear, devoid of love. But if you are a sinner, turn, and accept His blessings: He forgives all your transgressions. Yet even with forgiveness, the soul endures temptations and wavers between desires; at times consents to what it should reject. This struggle is a frailty, but He heals all your afflictions. Fear not, despite their enormity, for the Great Physician excels in healing. No ailment exists that surpasses His capability to cure; simply allow Him to mend you; welcome His aid. You will rejoice in His care, even enduring the pain of His discipline as it leads to your ultimate healing. Do not remain uncertain, for He who assures you of restoration cannot be deceptive. Human physicians may err, promising cures for bodily ailments, yet they do not treat their own afflictions. God created both your body and soul; He knows how to restore what He has fashioned. Endure under His care, for He abhors those who turn away from His grace.
Who redeems your life from destruction? Psalm 101:4. Consider how a decaying body chains the soul. Wisdom 9:15. Thus, the soul experiences life even within a deteriorating form, but what type of life is that? It carries burdens and suffers heaviness. How considerable are the distractions that prevent us from contemplating God Himself, drawing us into the despair of human transience? What myriad distractions invade our hearts, like worms of decay? Recognizing the gravity of such a condition, let us also honor the Physician. Would He, who made you in health, not heal you, if you choose to adhere to the teachings of true health? Let us prioritize our well-being. Man may face affliction in the comfort of his home, a stark reminder of illness that cannot be ignored. Even as he wishes to order his affairs, he finds himself compelled to consider first his health, prompted by the anxiety of friends urging him to focus on healing. Similarly, this message calls to you and all humanity; if you are well, think of those who are not; if your very weakness testifies to your ill-being, attend first to your restoration. Christ is your wellness; therefore, set your mind on Him. Accept the chalice of His healing, which cures all your ailments; if you choose, you may have this healing. For your life has been redeemed from decay—rest easy! The covenant is established; no one misleads you, no one undermines you; your Redeemer secures your freedom. He has already exchanged the price, having shed His blood. The only Son of God sacrificed His life for you, soul, rise up; such is your great value. He delivers you from corruption.
He crowns you with mercy and compassion. Perhaps you felt pride upon hearing He crowns you. Have you really striven? By whose strength? Yours, but only through His providence. He crowns you because He acknowledges His own gifts, not your worthiness. The Apostle states, “I labored more than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10. Through this grace, you shall receive your crown; do not boast; continuously praise the Lord and remember His rewards. It is indeed a reward to be called unto righteousness, despite being sinful and flawed. It is a reward to be uplifted, guiding you from falling. A reward guarantees you endure to the end. A reward includes your flesh—in all its fragility—being resurrected, with every strand of hair preserved. It is a reward to eternally praise God without ceasing.
After the struggle, I shall be crowned; after receiving my crown, what then? He satisfies your cravings with good things. Psalm 102:5. Seek goodness for your soul. To one creature, one good pertains; to another, another; all beings possess a propriety of goodness that aims at the perfection of their nature. There exists a distinct goodness appropriate to each imperfection; thus, pursue goodness for your soul. Only God is truly good. Matthew 19:17. The ultimate good is aligned with your own good. What can be lacking in Him, who is the essence of goodness? There are lesser goods that pertain to different beings. What, dear friends, serves cattle but to be fed, to avoid want, to find rest, to enjoy life, to remain healthy, and to multiply? Such goods are assigned to them by God, the Creator of all. Do you seek such pleasures? God offers these too, yet do not seek them exclusively. Can you, as a co-heir of Christ, revel merely in the good of cattle? Elevate your hope towards the highest good. God, who fashioned you to be good, brings about the goodness of all creation.
When will my heart's desires be fulfilled? When, you question? Your youth shall be renewed like the eagle's. When shall your soul unequivocally experience favor? When you are restored to youth. This notion of the eagle merits our reflection; it holds deeper meaning that we shall not overlook. The reference to the eagle’s renewal hints at resurrection. Indeed, while the eagle may regain youth, it is not a return to immortality; the analogy signals something transient, a metaphor for eternal life representing renewal but not permanence. The eagle, burdened by age, struggles to feed itself due to its beak, long and curved; it becomes too extended to open its mouth wide, thus preventing itself from obtaining sustenance. Old age brings about decay and weakness from lack of nourishment. Yet through a natural means, it seeks to restore its youth by striking its beak against a stone, shedding the weight that hinders it from feeding. Thus, when set free, its former vigor returns, its feathers regain their luster, and it ascends into the sky as before—experiencing what may resemble a resurrection.
This image reflects a similar theme to that of the moon, which, after waning, eventually becomes full once more, signifying resurrection that cannot be stalled. The eagle does not regain immortality, but we are called to an everlasting life; this metaphor reminds us that the stone acts as a catalyst that removes our hindrances—this stone is Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4. In Christ, our youth will be restored like the eagle’s. The Lord executes mercy and justice for all oppressed by wickedness. Psalm 102:6. The woman caught in adultery was brought forth for punishment under the Law but was met by the Lawgiver Himself. Our Lord, upon her presentation, bowed His head and began to write on the ground. By bowing to the earth, He inscribed words reflecting the severity of the Law while rewriting a new hope through grace. Before He lowered His head, He wrote with the commandment carved in stone, symbolizing the harshness of the Jews; now, with His head bowed, He indicates the nurturing of Christians. Though the accusers raged like a turbulent sea, the Lord’s response quelled the storm, saying, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” John 8:7. Bowing again, He returned to writing on earth, causing each accuser to question their own guilt. It was the adulterous conscience that turned them away—not the weak woman they sought to condemn, but their own failings led them to retreat, showing the way Christ overthrew their judgment.