Tuesday Mornings with Augustine

1 Peter 2:2

Pure Souls

No one can see the face, that is, the appearance of God’s wisdom, and live. For all who strive to love God with their heart, soul, and mind longs to study this revelation. Through its study, those who love their neighbors encourage them as much as they can.

All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments…. Therefore this appearance wisks away every rational soul with the desire for it, and makes the soul even more pure and eager for it. For souls become purer the more they rise to spiritual things. They rise more to spiritual things the more they die to fleshly things.

So, while we are absent from the Lord and walk by faith instead of sight, we should see the back parts or flesh of Christ. By that very faith, we stand on the solid foundation and rock of faith and we observe it from a safe watch tower…. For we come to love to see the face of Christ even more as we recognize how much Christ first loved us in His flesh.

Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers