20260828 Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(1 Cor 1:17–25; Mt 25:1–13): Until My Soul Rests in You Dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the holy life of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. In his youth, he wandered deeply into errors, including Manichaeism. Yet, carried by the tearful prayers and sacrifices of his mother, Saint Monica, he experienced a profound conversion. After his ordination as a bishop, he dedicated his entire life to defending the Church through his voluminous writings and exemplary faith. Indeed, his soul wandered endlessly in search of truth, driven by an unquenchable thirst. His long journey was marked by restlessness—an inability to remain still—and the anguish of a seeker striving to find wisdom through sheer human intellect and reason. It was as if he were exhausted by the emptiness of listening to various false doctrines in his longing for worldly wisdom, living like a restless nomad who had to set off on the road once again. Where, then, is true happiness to be found? Where is the spring of truth and reality that our souls must seek hidden? Where can we obtain the wisdom that reveals the path we ought to walk? No one is exempt from this journey to find the answer. Even those who know, believe in, and follow the Lord—such as priests, religious, and lay faithful—can unconsciously begin stepping outward when the joy of faith fades, when their commitment to eternity wanes, or when gratitude for where they stand diminishes. It is not uncommon for people to seek human consolation through alcohol, meaningless chatter with acquaintances, or social gatherings, or even to suffer from addiction to material goods and culture, or from deep depression. Like the main characters in Maurice Maeterlinck’s childhood fairy tale The Blue Bird, how often do we find ourselves repeatedly setting off in pursuit of that bluebird? Saint Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:17 and 23–25: "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel... we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." As these words reveal, a life in pursuit of true truth and wisdom is not defined by external indicators—such as how much work we accomplish, how many titles we hold, or how many people we influence. The Gospel deepens right where we contemplate Jesus on the Cross, and in that depth, the true meaning of love reaches its fullness. The Lord, who emptied Himself upon the Cross, gives us the conviction that our lives and our very existence here are loved and called by Him, renewing us and empowering us to move forward. Rather than searching in distant places, true joy and our core identity are restored right where we meet Him. This is the true happiness we ought to reach, and it is the wisdom of the Lord that accomplishes it all. When we are captivated and empowered by true wisdom, allowing our daily lives to be imbued with seeking the Lord at every moment, we learn the prudence to meet Him without fear whenever He comes. Our very lives become steeped in the fullness of truth. Thus, we can joyfully and serenely welcome the words of the Lord in Matthew 25:13: "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Was not the bluebird that the characters searched so frantically for ultimately right where they started—in their own home? And that bluebird was nothing other than happiness itself. Just as the fountain of true truth and the unquenchable source of wisdom that Augustine searched for so desperately was not far outside, but right within the Lord. This is why Saint Augustine confessed: "Our heart is restless until it rests in You." Dear brothers and sisters, on this blessed day, let us pray that we too may be filled with the joyful realization of true wisdom that shines brilliantly in the "foolishness" of Christ our Lord, who gave everything for us, so that our lives may become a testament that proclaims His love. Amen.