CHAP. XX. (43.) NO MAN IS ASSISTED UNLESS HE DOES HIMSELF ALSO WORK. OUR COURSE IS A CONSTANT PROGRESS.
But what is the import of the last statement which he has made: "If any one say, 'May it possibly be that a man sin not even in word?' then the answer," says he, "which must be given is, 'Quite possible, if God so will; and God does so will, therefore it is possible.'" See how unwilling he was to say, "If God give His help, then it would be possible;" and yet the Psalmist thus addresses God: "Be Thou my helper, forsake me not;" where of course help is not sought for procuring bodily advantages and avoiding bodily evils, but for practising and fulfilling righteousness.
The point here is that anything is possible with God. St. Mary never sinned and was conceived without sin. St. John the Baptist was cleansed of Original Sin in the womb.
Righteousness or justice, that is, purity in the eyes of God, derives grace in and from His Will for us.
Now, this is a great insight of Augustine's. It is OUR FAITH OR LACK OF FAITH which determines our perfection.
If we believe that God wants us to be perfect and if we cooperate with that grace, then we shall be.
If we do not believe, this perfection will not happen as God intended. We shall fall short of His ideal. We have free will either to answer the call to perfection or NOT.
Hence it is that we say: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Now no man is assisted unless he also himself does something; assisted, however, he is, if he prays, if he believes, if he is "called according to God's purpose;" for "whom He did fore-know, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified."
You who are reading this are already on the way. Take heart. You would not be reading and pondering these words of Augustine is you were not called.
We run, therefore, whenever we make advance; and our wholeness runs with us in our advance (just as a sore is said to run when the wound is in process of a sound and careful treatment), in order that we may be in every respect perfect, without any infirmity of sin whatever,--a result which God not only wishes, but even causes and helps us to accomplish.
Here it is again--the call, to get rid, with God's help of any imperfection and all sin!
And this God's grace does, in co-operation with ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord, as well by commandments, sacraments, and examples, as by His Holy Spirit also; through whom there is hiddenly shed abroad in our heads that love, "which maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered," until wholeness and salvation be perfected in us, and God be manifested to us as He will be seen in His eternal truth.
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Remember, that in baptism and confirmation, we have the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. More than just the Holy Spirit (just!), we have the Indwelling of the Trinity.
The Triune God is with us....recall the words of the Mass.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours,
for ever and ever.
To be continued...