Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tuesday Mornings with Augustine


1 Chronicles 29:5

Living Sacrifices


This is true sacrifice: every work that unites us in holy fellowship to God performed for His supreme good. For He alone can bless us in the end. Therefore, even our merciful acts aren’t sacrifices if they aren’t done for God’s sake. For sacrifice is a Divine thing even though we make or offer it. Those who have vowed themselves to God and are consecrated in His name are sacrifices in that they die to the world in order to live for God

Encouraging us to make this sacrifice, the apostle says, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” When the soul uses the body as a servant or instrument, it is a sacrifice if used rightly for God. But the soul itself becomes much more of a sacrifice when it offers itself to God. It is inflamed by the fire of His love in order that it can receive His beauty, become pleasing to Him, lose the shape of earthly desires, and be remolded into permanent loveliness.

Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers

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