Augustine's Handbook of Catholic Faith 2

Augustine encodes the trajectory of his reasoning in the titles of his first three sections. Here they are.

I. The Author [Augustine referring to himself] Desires the Gift of True Wisdom for Laurentius

II. The Fear of God [piety, that which pertains to right worship of God] is Man's True Wisdom

III. God is to be Worshiped Through Faith, Hope, and Love

Wisdom = Worship = Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love

Modern readers, especially those who came out of a sojourn in the Evangelical world will find it odd that Augustine conceives of Worship in a way that does not make immediate reference to praise songs and such. This is probably a useful corrective. No doubt the worship of God will involve such things but they are derived not basic. They are derived first from concrete acts of Faith, Hope, and Love.

Want to worship God? It might be easier out of Church than in it because our neighbor (think Parable of the Good Samaritan) is not always (or even frequently?) there in the pew. Go, step out in faith and love someone in need by sharing with them the hope you have in God. Just remember these words as you do.

James 2:15-17 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

[First Reflection]