THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved brothers and sisters, as faithful members of the Church and diligent students of Christ through the teachings of our ancient forebears, it should be evident to you that their intention was for the edification of us, the believers in Christ living during this age. He first came to us in a state of humility, and He is destined to return in glory. As stated in the Psalms, "Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven." Our aim is to discern the presence of Christ within the Psalms, Prophets, and Law—writings that predate His incarnation. Thus, dear ones, let us engage with this Psalm and seek Christ within its verses; He will be revealed to those who diligently search for Him, just as He first manifested to those who did not seek Him, and He will not abandon those who earnestly crave Him, redeeming even those who have disregarded Him.
The Psalm is initiated speaking of Him: "The Lord reigns; the people are enraged" (Psalm 98:1). Our Lord Jesus Christ commenced His reign with His proclamation following His resurrection and ascension, instilling hope in His disciples through the Holy Spirit, so that they might face the death He had already conquered. He was then declared to those yearning for salvation; idol-worshippers were incensed because their creator was being proclaimed through His disciples, who urged them to turn away from their own creations and seek the Creator. They were incensed at their Lord, prioritizing their idols over Him, even when their servant was of higher value than their crafted figures—God formed their servant while they shaped their idols. Their anger was misguided; however, the words of their wrath serve as a prophecy: "The Lord reigns; let the people be angry."
From anger, good can emerge: let them be wrathful, for this may even lead to the crowning of martyrs. You heard the readings from Jeremiah before the Apostle's message, and if you paid attention, you recognized the present times he highlighted. He declared, "The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and beneath the heavens" (Jeremiah 10:11). His words emphasize the permanence of the earth under heaven, where the references were repeated to illustrate their irrelevance. We must consider whether this is indeed unfolding in our time, for while many idols linger in the hearts of the Gentiles, their temples may have been diminished.
"He who is enthroned between the cherubim" signifies He is the true King—let Him stir the earth. The cherubim symbolize God's divine throne, as depicted in Scripture. Therefore, in pursuing goodness, we become God's throne, for it is written, "The soul of the righteous is the repository of wisdom" (Proverbs 12:23). Some have interpreted the term cherubim in Hebrew as "fullness of knowledge," underscoring that, since God surpasses all understanding, He is seated above all knowledge. We are called to embody this fullness, allowing our hearts to become His throne.
He comprehends all things; indeed, every hair on our heads is counted (Matthew 10:30). However, the fullness of knowledge He intended for humanity relates to His law. You may wonder who can embody this perfect knowledge of the law to be a throne for God. Fear not, for the Apostle succinctly summarises it: "Love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10). If you find your heart devoid of love, you have lost your justification. Reflect on whether your heart harbors love. If love is present, you fulfill the law; God resides within you, and you become His throne. What can angry people do against one who has become God's throne? Pay heed to those who are angry with you, but do not overlook the One who dwells within you—you have become heaven; why fear the earth? As Scripture states, "Heaven is My throne" (Isaiah 66:1). Therefore, if you embody knowledge and love, you are indeed heaven. The heaven we observe is insignificant compared to God's true abode, which consists of the souls of the holy, the minds of angels, and the hearts of His servants.
"Great is the Lord in Zion and high above all people" (Psalm 98:2). The Lord, whom I refer to as the cherubim, is truly exalted in Zion. But what is Zion? It is the city of God, identified as Jerusalem, which signifies "watching" or contemplation; every soul that endeavors to see the true light is Zion. If it observes its own diminished light, it becomes obscured, but if it gazes upon Him, it is illuminated. It is evident that the city of God is the Holy Church, where individuals who love one another and cherish their God form a united community.
What is the bond that holds this city? The law of Love; and since "God is love" (1 John 4:8), the one who is filled with love is filled with God, and collectively, those full of love constitute a city brimming with His presence. Thus, we regard the Church as Zion, where God is magnified.
Do you think that those who reveled yesterday resent our acts of fasting? Rather than reciprocating their anger, let us fast on their behalf. Our Lord, who dwells within us, commanded us to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). When the Church engages in such prayer, even the fiercest persecutors begin to diminish. A drunken person may not realize their own folly, but the sober one grieves for them. Show me a soul truly content in God, one yearning for the eternal peace promised by Him. When they witness frivolity, they are grieved rather than angered, since an understanding of another's wrongdoings evokes compassion within them, leading them to pray.
Our fasting in joyous times serves as a lamentation; we mourn for their state when they rejoice, reminding ourselves of their present misery. Yet, we see many emerge from the plight we once endured, and we must not despair for others still ensnared. If they show resentment, we shall persist in our prayers, and should any portion of the earth rise against us, let us weep for them, asking God to grant them insight so they, too, may join us in our moments of joy.
"All the earth, over which You are great in Zion, let them confess Your Name" (Psalm 98:3). Your Name was once insignificant when they raged against it, and it has now become great; let them confess it. In what manner was Christ's Name small before its widespread acclaim? Its greatness is encapsulated in its proclamation. What nation has yet to hear the Name of Christ? Therefore, those who once reviled Him must now reverently acknowledge Your majestic Name, which is both marvelous and holy. His Name, once preached in humility and reproach, is now exalted and alive, destined to return to judge with authority. Forbearance characterizes God's mercy, as "the goodness of God leads to repentance" (Romans 2:4). He who presently shows mercy shall not always do so, and He, whom they now scorn, shall come to judge.
He will indeed return; let us revere Him and live in such a manner as to be found on His right hand, distinguishing those set on the left from those on the right (Matthew 25:31-33). He acts without error, ensuring the just are rightly placed, and the unjust correspondently assigned. If He cannot err, we must not falter through fear. Yet should we fear in this life, we have nothing to dread thereafter, for the dignity of the King loves justice.
"You have established equity; You have executed judgment and righteousness in Jacob" (Psalm 98:4). We, too, ought to manifest justice and righteousness, but they are instilled in us by Him who formed us. Justice entails discerning good from evil, while righteousness demands that we pursue goodness and flee from vice. Through this discernment, we attain justice; through action, we realize righteousness. Thus, we must first comprehend justice, then embody righteousness. Judgment is to recognize the distinction between good and evil; righteousness compels us to forsake evil and pursue the good. But these qualities must come from Him; it is said, "You have wrought judgment and righteousness in Jacob."
"Exalt the Lord our God" (Psalm 98:5). Truly magnify Him, for He created the very truth we hold; He is the source of our righteousness. It is said of Him, "Who justifies the ungodly" (Romans 4:5). We should prostrate ourselves before the footstool of His holiness. The footstool, denoted in Greek as ὑποπόδιον and in Latin as Scabellum, is what lies beneath our feet. We must ponder what it means to worship at His footstool. Another passage states, "Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool" (Isaiah 66:1). They do not command us to worship the earth; rather, we are instructed to revere the Lord our God (Deuteronomy 6:13).
The earth may be His footstool; I inquire how to worship the earth without transgressing. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that He took on flesh from the earth when He came to us through Mary. His walking on this earth and offering us His flesh for salvation show us that honoring His footstool is not folly but necessity. Yes, flesh does not impart life; as our Lord proclaimed, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh is of no avail" (John 6:63). He spoke of His own flesh, declaring, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, you have no life in you" (John 6:54). Some of His followers stumbled at these words, finding them difficult to accept, misunderstanding His teaching as they thought of it in purely physical terms. Had they been less harsh, they might have recognized the hidden truth behind His words.
When the Twelve remained, they revealed their discontent over His proclamation, yet He reminded them, "The Spirit gives life, the flesh profits nothing" (John 6:63). Understand what is meant by this; you are not to consume the body you see or drink the blood that would be shed by those who crucify Him. This mystery requires spiritual insight; although it must be celebrated visibly, its deeper meaning must be comprehended in spirit.
"Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who call upon His Name; they called upon the Lord, and He answered them" (Psalm 98:6). He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud (Psalm 98:7). Notably, it is not stated that Moses was a priest; yet, if he were not, what else could he be? This Psalm indicates that he was indeed a priest, for Moses and Aaron served as priests of the Lord. Samuel, who existed in the time of David, also served as a priest, having been committed to God's temple in his youth. Their inclusion signifies all the saints, highlighting that Christ should be understood through their example.
Join in, holy brethren, as we magnify the Lord our God and bow before His holy footstool, which is sanctified. We recognize the significance of worshipping here; in acknowledging the Lord Jesus Christ, we must remember that His footstool reflects the flesh He took on for the sake of mankind. The ancient prophets foretold His coming, and our Lord Jesus Christ is the True Priest whose presence among us warrants our reverence. He spoke to them through the obscure words of the cloud, which foretold revelations yet to be made manifest; today, we recognize these truths in Christ.
God spoke from the pillar of cloud, which was once enigmatic to the audience; but as He now speaks through His Servant who bears flesh, we worship at His footstool. He communed with them regarding His commandments, affirming, "You have heard them" (Psalm 98:8), for when He forgives, it is concerning sins alone. Thus, He chastens in order to forgive, indicating that even punishment carries the essence of forgiveness.
Consider this: the Lord is particularly displeased with those He does not discipline, for true forgiveness leads to correction. His chastisements, gentle yet firm, serve to protect us from the perils of continuous sinning. If we explore how He chastised Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, we gain insight into His nature as He corrected their inner imperfections according to His wisdom.