Augustine, Sermo 97 (Classis I, de Scripturis)

SERMON XCVII. On the words of the Gospel of Mark, chapter XIII, 32, But of that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.

CHAPTER ONE. — 1. Preparation for the last day. Brethren, as to what you have just heard the Scripture warning and saying, that we should keep watch on account of the last day, let each one think about his own last day: lest perhaps, when you have sensed or supposed that the last day of the world is far off, you fall asleep towards your own last day. Concerning the last day of this world you have heard what He said: That they do not know it, neither the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, but the Father. Here indeed there is a great question, lest, thinking in a carnal way, we suppose that the Father knows something which the Son does not know. For surely when He said, The Father knows, He said this because in the Father the Son also knows. For what is there in a day which was not made in the Word, through Whom the day was made? Let no one therefore seek out the last day, when it is to be: but let us all keep watch by living well, lest the last day of any one of us find us unprepared, and so that such as each one departs hence on his own last day, such he may be found on the last day of the world. What you have not done here will not help you at all. Each one his own works will help, or his own works will weigh down.

CHAPTER II. — 2. Man's mortality ought to profit him for humility. And how did we sing to the Lord in the Psalm, Have mercy on me, O Lord, for man has trodden me down (Ps. 55:2)? He is called man who lives according to man. Indeed, to those who live according to God it is said: You are gods, and all sons of the Most High. But to the reprobate, who were called to be sons of God, and preferred to be men, that is, to live according to man: But you, He says, shall die like men, and shall fall like one of the princes (Ps. 81:6, 7). For the fact that man is mortal ought to serve him for discipline, not for boasting. Why does a worm boast itself,

that is to die tomorrow? I tell your Charity, brethren: proud mortals ought to blush before the devil. For he, though proud, is nevertheless immortal: he is a spirit, though a malignant one. For him a last day of punishment is kept until the end: yet the death which we suffer, he does not suffer. But man heard, You shall die the death (Gen. 2:17). Let him make good use of his punishment. What is it that I said, Let him make good use of his punishment? Let him not go on to pride from the very thing by which he received punishment; let him acknowledge himself mortal, and break his elation. Let him hear it said to him, Why is earth and ashes proud (Sir. 10:9)? Even if the devil is proud, he is not earth and ashes. Therefore it was said, But you shall die like men, and shall fall like one of the princes. You do not consider that you are mortal, and you are proud like the devil. Let man therefore make use of his punishment, brethren: let him make good use of his evil, that he may profit for his good. Who does not know that it is a punishment that we must die; and, what is heavier, that we do not know when? The punishment is certain, the hour uncertain: and of this punishment alone are we certain in human affairs.

CHAPTER III. — 3. Death alone is certain here. Our other things, both good and evil, are uncertain: death alone is certain. What is it that I am saying? A child is conceived; perhaps it is born, perhaps it miscarries. So it is uncertain: perhaps he grows, perhaps he does not grow: perhaps he grows old, perhaps he does not grow old: perhaps he will be rich, perhaps poor: perhaps honoured, perhaps humbled: perhaps he will have sons, perhaps he will not have them: perhaps he will take a wife, perhaps he will not: and whatever else you may name among good things. Look also at evil things: perhaps he falls sick, perhaps he does not fall sick: perhaps he is struck by a serpent, perhaps he is not struck: perhaps he is devoured by a beast, perhaps he is not devoured. And look at all evil things: everywhere it is, Perhaps it will be, perhaps it will not be. Can you say, Perhaps he dies, perhaps he does not die? As physicians, when they have examined someone's state of health and have recognized it to be deadly, pronounce this: He is dying, he will not escape it. From the moment a man is born, it must be said, He will not escape. When he was born, he began to be sick. When he has died, he ends his sickness indeed: but he does not know whether he passes into a worse one. That rich man had ended a delightful sickness; he came to a tortuous one. But that poor man ended his sickness, and came to health (Luke 16:22). But what he would have afterwards he chose here; and what he reaped there, he sowed here. Therefore while we live we ought to keep watch, and we ought to choose what we may hold in the future.

CHAPTER IV. — 4. The world conquered for us through Christ. Let us not love the world. It presses down its lovers; it does not lead them to good. One must labour rather that it may not take us captive, than fear that it may fall. Behold, the world is falling; the Christian stands, because Christ does not fall. For why does the Lord say, Rejoice, for I have overcome the world (John 16:33)? Let us answer Him, if you please: Rejoice, but Thou. If Thou hast conquered, do Thou rejoice. Why we? Why does He say to us, Rejoice; except that He conquered for us, fought for us? For where did He fight? In that He took up man. Take away that He was born of a virgin, take away that He emptied Himself,

taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and found in habit as a man (Phil. 2:7): take this away, and where is the wrestling? where the contest? where the trial? where the victory, which no fight preceded? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was made nothing. Would a Jew have crucified this Word? Would an impious man have insulted this Word? Would this Word have been struck with blows? Would this Word have been crowned with thorns? But so that He might suffer these things, the Word was made flesh (John 1:1, 2, 3, 14): and having suffered these things He conquered by rising again. Therefore He conquered for us, to whom He showed the assurance of the resurrection. You say therefore to God, Have mercy on me, O Lord, for man has trodden me down. Do not tread yourself down, and man does not conquer you. For see, a powerful man terrifies you. With what does he terrify you? I despoil, I fine, I torture, I kill. And you cry out, Have mercy on me, O Lord, for man has trodden me down. If you speak the truth, you are looking at yourself: because you fear the threats of a man, a dead man treads you down; and because you would not fear unless you were a man, man treads you down. What then is the remedy? O man, cleave to God, by Whom you were made man: hold fast to Him, put your confidence in Him, call upon Him, let Him be your strength. Say to Him: In Thee, O Lord, is my strength. And you will sing in the face of the threats of men; and what you shall sing afterwards, the Lord Himself says: In God I will hope, I will not fear what man may do to me (Ps. 55:2, 11).