Christian Art | Jesus Christ The Good Shepherd
Office Of Readings | Week 24, Friday, Ordinary Time | From The Sermon Of Saint Augustine On The Shepherds | Prepare Your Soul For Temptation
‘Prepare your soul for temptation.’
Saint Augustine continues his critique of negligent shepherds by focusing on what they fail to provide for the flock. The concern here is not only with material exploitation, but with a more fundamental dereliction: the refusal to prepare believers for the trials that accompany the Christian life.
Augustine draws upon the imagery of Ezekiel’s prophetic indictment of false shepherds (Ezekiel 34:4) to catalogue the failures of pastoral care: the weak remain unstrengthened, the sick uncared for, the injured unbound, the straying uncalled, and the lost unsearched. To these he adds the destruction of the strong, which occurs when those with firm faith are unsettled by misleading teaching or bad example.
The central theme is the necessity of preparing believers for temptation. The negligent pastor fails to instruct the weak with the exhortation: ‘My son, come to the service of God … prepare your soul for temptation’ (a reference to Sirach 2:1). Without this preparation, Christians risk being corrupted by prosperity or crushed by adversity. Augustine here contrasts two foundations for faith, following Matthew 7:24–27: the sand of worldly security, and the rock which is Christ. Only those built upon Christ’s example of suffering and endurance will stand firm.
The reference to Christ’s passion highlights the formative role of his suffering: he endured humiliation, accusation and crucifixion not for his own sake, but for humanity’s strengthening. By meditating upon his endurance, the believer finds a pattern for perseverance. The shepherd’s responsibility is therefore to direct attention away from promises of worldly ease and toward the reality of discipleship marked by suffering.
Augustine warns against those who, fearing to offend, promise the faithful a life of worldly happiness. Such teaching, he argues, not only departs from Scripture but contradicts the apostolic witness: ‘All who desire to live a holy life in Christ will suffer persecution.’ (2 Timothy 3:12) To teach otherwise is to construct faith on fragile ground, leaving it exposed to collapse when difficulties arise.
For Augustine, hardship and discipline are not signs of abandonment but of divine recognition, echoing Hebrews 12:6: ‘He chastises every son whom he acknowledges.’ The Christian must therefore interpret trials not as punishment but as confirmation of sonship. The pastor’s task is to ensure the flock understands this, so that when adversity comes they are neither scandalised nor shaken but confirmed in their union with Christ.
From The Sermon Of Saint Augustine On The Shepherds | Prepare Your Soul For Temptation
You have already been told about the wicked things shepherds desire. Let us now consider what they neglect. You have failed to strengthen what was weak, to heal what was sick and to bind up what was injured, that is, what was broken. You did not call back the straying sheep, nor seek out the lost. What was strong you have destroyed. Yes, you have cut it down and killed it. The sheep is weak, and so, incautious and unprepared, it may give in to temptations.
The negligent shepherd fails to say to the believer: My son, come to the service of God, stand fast in fear and in righteousness, and prepare your soul for temptation. A shepherd who does say this strengthens the one who is weak and makes him strong. Such a believer will then not hope for the prosperity of this world. For if he has been taught to hope for worldly gain, he will be corrupted by prosperity. When adversity comes, he will be wounded or perhaps destroyed.
The builder who builds in such manner is not building the believer on a rock but upon sand. But the rock was Christ. Christians must imitate Christ’s sufferings, not set their hearts on pleasures. He who is weak will be strengthened when told: ‘Yes, expect the temptations of this world, but the Lord will deliver you from them all if your heart has not abandoned him. For it was to strengthen your heart that he came to suffer and die, came to be spit upon and crowned with thorns, came to be accused of shameful things, yes, came to be fastened to the wood of the cross. All these things he did for you, and you did nothing. He did them not for himself, but for you.’
But what sort of shepherds are they who for rear of giving offense not only fait to prepare the sheep for the temptations that threaten, but even promise them worldly happiness? God himself made no such promise to this world. On the contrary, God foretold hardship upon hardship in this world until the end of time. And you want the Christian to be exempt from these troubles? Precisely because he is a Christian, he is destined to suffer more in this world.
For the Apostle says: All who desire to live a holy life in Christ will suffer persecution. But you, shepherd, seek what is yours and not what is Christ’s, you disregard what the Apostle says: All who want to live a holy life in Christ will suffer persecution. You say instead: ‘If you live a holy life in Christ, all good things will be yours in abundance. If you do not have children, you will embrace and nourish all men, and none of them shall die.’ Is this the way you build up the believer? Take note of what you are doing and where you are placing him. you have built him on sand. The rains will come, the river will overflow and rush in, the winds will blow, and the elements will dash against that house of yours. It will fall, and its ruin will be great.
Lift him up from the sand and put him on the rock. Let him be in Christ, if you wish him to be a Christian. Let him turn his thoughts to sufferings, however unworthy they may be in comparison to Christ’s. Let him center his attention on Christ, who was without sin, and yet made restitution for what he had not done. Let him consider Scripture, which says to him: He chastises every son whom he acknowledges. Let him prepare to be chastised, or else not seek to be acknowledged as a son.
Christian Prayer With Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus,
you endured suffering and shame for the sake of your people.
Strengthen us in weakness,
heal us in our wounds,
and prepare us for the trials of this life.
Keep our feet firm upon your rock,
that in adversity we may not fall,
and in prosperity we may not be corrupted.
Teach your Church to speak truth with courage,
that your people may be built up in faith,
and share in the hope of your kingdom,
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Glossary Of Christian Terms
Ezekiel 34:4 – A prophetic denunciation of Israel’s false shepherds who neglected and exploited the flock. Augustine repeatedly draws on this chapter in On Pastors.
Sirach 2:1 – ‘My child, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing.’ A key text for Augustine’s argument about preparing Christians for temptation.
Rock / Sand (Matthew 7:24–27) – The parable of the wise and foolish builders, contrasting faith founded on Christ with that based on worldly securities.
2 Timothy 3:12 – Paul’s warning that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will suffer persecution.
Hebrews 12:6 – ‘The Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he acknowledges.’ Used to frame adversity as divine discipline.
Pastoral negligence – For Augustine, the failure not only to feed or protect the flock materially, but also to teach and prepare them spiritually for the trials of faith.
YouTube: Ash Wednesday | T.S. Eliot | Audio Christian Poetry | Word Aloud Ash Wednesday, one of T.S. Eliot’s most profound and enigmatic poems, marks a significant transition in his life and work. Written in 1930, it is the first long poem Eliot composed after his conversion to Anglicanism in 1927. The poem, often considered one of Eliot’s masterpieces, delves into themes of faith, redemption, and spiritual struggle. It reflects the poet’s personal journey towards spiritual enlightenment and serves as a testament to his newfound religious beliefs. A reading of Ash Wednesday is an exploration of the poem’s religious, literary, and personal contexts, as of the poem’s complex structure and themes. Religious Context And Symbolism Ash Wednesday is deeply embedded in Christian symbolism and tradition. The title refers to the first day of Lent in the Christian liturgical calendar, a day marked by penance, fasting, and prayer. Ash Wednesday is a time for reflection on mortality and repentance, themes that are intricately woven throughout the poem. Eliot’s conversion to Anglicanism profoundly influenced his writing; ‘Ash Wednesday’ is an expression of spiritual awakening and quest for redemption. The poem is replete with religious imagery and references, drawing on Christian doctrine and scripture. The use of liturgical language, biblical allusions, and references to saints and spiritual figures creates a tapestry of faith that invites readers to contemplate deep spiritual truths with which Eliot is grappling. The repetitive and prayer-like quality of the verses echoes meditative practices of the faithful, in part enabling the contemplative nature of the poem. Literary Influences And Techniques T.S. Eliot was a master of literary allusion and technique, and Ash Wednesday expresses Eliot’s ability to blend various influences into a cohesive whole. The poem reflects the influence of Dante, particularly The Divine Comedy, which Eliot admired for its exploration of spiritual ascent and redemption. Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven parallels Eliot’s own spiritual journey, and the structure of Ash Wednesday can be seen as a reflection of this pilgrimage. Eliot’s use of fragmented narrative, a hallmark of his earlier work such as The Waste Land, is also present in Ash Wednesday. However, in this poem, the fragmentation serves a different purpose. Instead of depicting the disintegration of modern society, it mirrors the fragmented and often painful process of spiritual rebirth. The disjointed structure reflects the internal struggle of the speaker, who is torn between the pull of worldly desires and the aspiration for divine grace. The poem’s language is rich and varied, combining the lyrical and the obscure, the personal and the universal. Eliot employs a range of poetic forms and devices, including free verse, rhyme and meter, to convey the tumultuous journey of faith. The shifting tone and style reflect the complexities and contradictions inherent in the spiritual quest, capturing moments of doubt, despair, hope, and transcendence. Personal Significance Ash Wednesday is a deeply personal work. Eliot’s conversion to Anglicanism marked a profound shift in his life, providing a sense of purpose and direction that had been missing. The poem can be read as a reflection of Eliot’s own struggles with faith and his efforts to reconcile his intellectual skepticism with his desire for spiritual certainty. Eliot’s personal experiences, including his troubled marriage and professional pressures, also inform the poem. Themes of renunciation and acceptance, sin and redemption, are not merely abstract concepts but lived realities for the poet. This personal dimension adds a layer of intimacy and urgency to the poem, which thereby resonates with readers who have faced their own spiritual crises. Thematic Exploration At its core, Ash Wednesday is a meditation on the possibility of spiritual renewal in a world that often seems devoid of meaning. The poem grapples with the tension between faith and doubt, reflecting the existential struggles of modernity. The poem acknowledges the difficulties of maintaining belief in an age of skepticism but ultimately affirms the possibility of redemption and grace. The central theme of renunciation is explored through imagery of ascension and purification. The speaker’s journey is marked by a series of renunciations, symbolizing the shedding of earthly attachments in pursuit of spiritual truth. This process is neither straightforward nor easy; it involves moments of intense struggle and introspection. Yet, through this arduous journey, the speaker moves closer to a state of spiritual clarity and acceptance. Ash Wednesday | T. S. Eliot Because I do not hope to turn again Because I do not hope Because I do not hope to turn Desiring this man’s gift and that man’s scope I no longer strive to strive towards such things (Why should the agèd eagle stretch its wings?) Why should I mourn The vanished power of the usual reign? Because I do not hope to know The infirm glory of the positive hour Because I do not think Because I know I shall not know The one veritable transitory power Because I cannot drink There, where trees flower, and springs flow, for there is nothing again Because I know that time is always time And place is always and only place And what is actual is actual only for one time And only for one place I rejoice that things are as they are and I renounce the blessèd face And renounce the voice Because I cannot hope to turn again Consequently I rejoice, having to construct something Upon which to rejoice And pray to God to have mercy upon us And pray that I may forget These matters that with myself I too much discuss Too much explain Because I do not hope to turn again Let these words answer For what is done, not to be done again May the judgement not be too heavy upon us Because these wings are no longer wings to fly But merely vans to beat the air The air which is now thoroughly small and dry Smaller and dryer than the will Teach us to care and not to care Teach us to sit still. Pray for us sinners now […]
The psalm begins with an invocation of praise for God’s enduring goodness and mercy. This introduction sets a tone for recounting of Israel’s history, a pattern of divine intervention and human failure. From the Exodus to their wanderings in the desert, and eventual settlement in the Promised Land, each episode in Psalm 106 highlights a cycle of sin, punishment, repentance, and redemption [ … ]
Attributed traditionally to King David, Psalm 91 (Vulgate 90) begins by highlighting safety and security provided to those who dwell in the secret place of God, finding shelter under God’s shadow [ … ]
