Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 427

For you know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked,
so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.

Controversy arose once again over the controversial athlete, Charles Barkley, when he declared, "I am not a role model!" Known for his enormous size and aggressive physicality on the basketball court, he was certainly a role model for aspiring high school and college athletes. But he explained his remark: kids should be taught to emulate their parents, not athletes or celebrities. “Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids."  

Not everyone was satisfied with his remark or his explanation. Kids do emulate their heroes, even if they're only movie stars, politicians, or pro athletes. 

Saint Paul knew that the Good News of the Lord's resurrection meant nothing if it was announced by an "old man." As one baptized in the repentance of Saint John and transformed in the Spirit of Jesus, he had to model the new man, Baptism is more than window dressing. If one acts in imitation of Jesus or a saint, the style and manner must come from a far deeper source than conscious imitation.  One does not try to be virtuous. 

In his letter to the Ephesians he wrote, 

...assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus ...you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. (Ephesians 4: 21-24)

As the oldest child of ten, I remember how my parents had to learn that hard lesson. There were a few occasions when I copied their words, and was told never to speak that way again! Nor did I hear those delicious words again. They wanted above all to be good parents, as Mr. Barkley rightly observed, and so they had to alter their speech and manner accordingly. Their renewed minds came from the deep heart of their love of God, one another, and their children.  

So we pray that the truth of Jesus is within us, that his inspiration directs our thinking. And we practice this new way of life which requires all the deliberate attention of the young athlete who is learning to dribble a basketball, and of the musician learning the keyboard. One's desire to be holy means nothing if we're not taking lessons from holy people and practicing with some effort what we see them do, apparently without effort. We can expect to make mistakes but we should not be too patient with our mistakes. 

And we should realize that people, especially children, are watching. They want to know how one lives as a disciple of Jesus. They expect and deserve an answer to the question, "What would Jesus do?" Nor should they have to turn to the Bible to find it. 

On this feast of Saint Augustine, we recall histories first autobiographer. With the discipline of his own writing he explored the darkest places of his heart. He recalled the arrogance of a youth who thought he could understand the mysteries of God and the relief of discovering that God had known his foolishness all along. And  then he remembered the example of his mother Monica, who never ceased to pray for her wayward son. He could forgive himself as she had forgiven him, and because God had forgiven him. As a bishop, he urged others, especially the Donatists, to forgive as he had forgiven. 

Augustine's autobiography became known as "The Confessions..." because of his frank revelations of his sinful, misguided past, and for confessing his new faith in Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the 1600th anniversary of his Baptism, Pope Paul VI wrote, 

Indeed over and above the shining example he gives of the qualities common to all the Fathers, it may be said that all the thought currents of the past meet in the works and form the source that provides the whole doctrinal Tradition of succeeding ages. 

As we practice our faith, the Saint also reminds us that we must practice our faith as we study the history of our religion. We're then prepared to answer the reasons for our hope, as Saint Peter urged us, 

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. (I Peter 3: 15-16)