Seek understanding with love; Church Fathers: Day 094

Writing to convert Manichean heretics, St. Augustine admits that he can’t make them understand Catholic truth. But if they seek the truth with real love, they’ll find it.

In your case, we must try, not to make you understand divine things (which is impossible), but to make you want to understand. This is the work of the pure and artless love of God, which is seen mainly in what we do, and of which we have already said much. This love, inspired by the Holy Spirit, leads to the Son—that is, to the wisdom of God, by which the Father himself is known.

For if wisdom and truth are not sought with the whole mind, wisdom cannot possibly be found. But when it is sought as it deserves to be, it cannot run away or hide itself from those who love it.

Thus wisdom’s words, which you like to repeat: “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7) and “nothing is covered that will not be revealed” (Matthew 10:26).

It is love that asks, love that seeks, love that knocks, love that reveals—and love, too, that keeps us firm in what is revealed.  –St. Augustine, Morals of the Catholic Church, 12

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Instead of trying to understand everything myself, have I prayed with real love for understanding?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, guide me along the path that leads to truth, and lead me to hear the wonderful things I long to understand.

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