Let us not resist the first coming, so that we may not dread the second

Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

On the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the book of the prophet Joel (2: 21—3: 5) entitled “Concerning the last days”. Our treasure, which follows, is from a discourse on the Psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop.

Saint Augustine was born at Tagaste in Africa in 354. He was unsettled and restlessly searched for the truth until he was converted to the faith at Milan and baptized by Ambrose. Returning to his homeland, he embraced an ascetic life and subsequently was elected bishop of Hippo. For thirty-four years he guided his flock, instructing it with sermons and many writings. He fought bravely against the errors of his time and explained the faith carefully and cogently through his writings.

Augustine is perhaps the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul. He adapted Classical thought to Christian teaching and created a powerful theological system of lasting influence. He also shaped the practice of biblical exegesis and helped lay the foundation for much of medieval and modern Christian thought.

Augustine is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran churches, and the Anglican Communion. Saint Augustine is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church in the Patristic Period. He is also a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church and the patron of the Augustinians. He died in 430.

The Psalms are a collection of 150 ancient Hebrew poems, songs, and prayers that make up the third and final section of the biblical canon, known as the Writings. They were written by many different authors over time, including King David, Solomon, Moses, and other worship leaders. The psalms are often set to music, but not always, and express the emotions of the individual poet to or about God.

Throughout its many pages, Psalms encourages its readers to praise God for who He is and what He has done. The Psalms illuminate the greatness of our God, affirm His faithfulness to us in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His Word.