Saint Augustine (354-430)
Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Discourses on the Psalms, Ps 50[49], §23
"Whoever listens to you listens to me"
Someone, having listened to the verse: “Offer to God a sacrifice of praise” (Ps 50[49].14), said to himself: “I will go to church every day when I get up and sing a morning hymn; then an evening hymn at the end of the day and then, in my own home, a third and fourth hymn. This is how I will make a sacrifice of praise every day and offer it to my God.” It is good to do this if you do it in truth, but beware of placing your confidence in what you do and fear lest, while your tongue is speaking eloquently before God, your life may be speaking badly... Take care you don't live evilly while speaking well.
Why is this so? Because God says to the sinner: “Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your mouth, [you who cast my words behind you]?” (v.16-17). You see how anxiously we have to speak to you... But as for you, my brothers, you are safe: if you hear good things being spoken then it is God you hear, no matter whose mouth is speaking to you. Yet God has not wanted to leave those who are speaking to you without warning them, lest they rest peacefully in their disordered lives thinking they are speaking about what is good, saying to themselves: “God will not allow us to be lost, those of us through whom he has wanted to speak such good things to his people”. So, you who speak, whoever you may be, listen to what you are saying; you who wish to be heard, listen first of all to yourselves... God grant that I may be the first to listen, God grant that I may listen and hear even more than everyone else “what God proclaims, for he speaks peace to his people” (Ps 85[84],9).
Daily Marriage Tip for October 5, 2018:
If you suddenly had a million dollars given to you, how would you use it? Is your answer different from that of your spouse?