On Friday the Sixth Week of Easter our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the first letter of the apostle John (3:11-17) entitled "Love one another". Our treasure, which follows, is from a treatise on John by Saint Augustine, bishop.
Saint Augustine is perhaps the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul. He adapted Classical teaching and created a powerful theological system of lasting influence. He also shaped the practice of biblical exegesis and helped lay the foundation for much of medieval and modern Christian thought.
The legacy of Saint Augustine of Hippo is immense, shaping both Catholic theology and Western thought as a whole. He is best known for his profound writings—especially Confessions and City of God—which explore the human heart's restless search for God, the reality of sin and grace, and the meaning of history. In short, his legacy is that of a master teacher who showed that the journey to God is both deeply personal and firmly grounded in truth.
Saint Augustine is a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church. His most important teachings shape not only Western theology but the entire intellectual tradition of the Church. His thought deeply influenced later figures such as Saint Thomas Aquinas and remains foundational in Catholic doctrine. He died in 430.
His tractates on John give us a glimpse of the man that we do not often get from his other works. Augustine's preaching shows us not only his brilliant mind and rhetorical skills as he expounds upon the Scriptures but also the great love he had for Christ and for the faithful entrusted to his care.
Today's treasure from Augustine entitled "Two Kinds of Life" teaches that there are two ways of living: one centered on active service in the world and another centered on contemplative prayer and love of God. Augustine explains that both forms of life are good and necessary, but the contemplative life is the higher goal because it leads more directly to the eternal joy of seeing God. The main takeaway is that Christian life should integrate both action and prayer, with all activity ultimately ordered toward loving communion with God.
Our first reading today, from First Epistle of John, teaches that true Christian life is shown in concrete, selfless love for others. Saint John contrasts love with hatred, using the example of Cain to show that indifference or hostility toward others is incompatible with life in God. He teaches that love must be active and sacrificial, even to the point of laying down one's life for others, as Christ did. The essential message is that authentic faith is proven by mercy, generosity, and care for those in need, not just by words or beliefs.
