The Catholic Book Blogger
At the end of time, says St. Augustine, the angels will separate the wheat from the chaff. Until then, we’re all mixed up together. But we can anticipate their work by separating ourselves from everything wicked.
As long as the chaff is being bruised with the wheat, as long as the bad fish swim together with the good in the nets of the Lord, till the time of separation comes, it is your duty rather to endure the mixture of the bad out of consideration for the good, than to violate the principle of brotherly love towards the good from any consideration of the bad. For this mixture is not for eternity, but only for a time; nor is it spiritual, but corporal. And the angels will not make any mistakes when they collect the bad from the midst of the good, and commit them to the burning fiery furnace. For the Lord knows those who are his.
But if we cannot depart in body from those who practice iniquity as long as time lasts, at any rate, let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity itself. For in the meantime you can separate yourself from the wicked in life, and in morals, and in heart and will, and in the same ways depart from their society; and separation such as this should always be maintained. But wait till the end of time for the separation in the body—wait faithfully, patiently, bravely. –St. Augustine, Letters of Petilian the Donatist, 3.3
IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
How much of my life is chaff and how much is good wheat? What can I do to anticipate the angels’ work and start getting rid of the chaff?
CLOSING PRAYER
Though I am as chaff that the storm carries away, Lord, make me worthy to be stored with your wheat when your angels come to bring in the harvest.
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