Office Of Readings | Week 25, Thursday, Ordinary Time | From The Sermon Of Saint Augustine On The Shepherds | I Will Feed My Sheep In Good Pastures

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Office Of Readings | Week 25, Thursday, Ordinary Time | From The Sermon Of Saint Augustine On The Shepherds | I Will Feed My Sheep In Good Pastures

‘In good pastures I shall feed my sheep.’

Saint Augustine reflects on the divine promise from Ezekiel: ‘I shall feed my sheep.’ He interprets the mountains of Israel as the sacred authors of Scripture, whose writings provide the true and safe nourishment of the flock. For Augustine, the faithful are to graze on these pastures by listening to the Word of God. Teachings that accord with Scripture are to be received; teachings that diverge from it must be rejected. This safeguards the flock from error and ensures that the food they consume is wholesome.

The image of pastures extends into the streams flowing from the mountains, which Augustine identifies with the preaching of the Gospel, spreading from its origin in Israel to every land. These waters make the whole world fertile for the flock, so that the nourishment of Scripture and the Gospel is available everywhere.

The promise of rest is central. The sheep will not only be fed, but they will find security and peace in God’s glory. Augustine insists, however, that while the mountains represent the good teachers of the Church, trust must ultimately rest not in human figures but in God himself, who declares: ‘I will feed my sheep.’ The mountains may help to raise the eyes of the faithful, but the source of strength and nourishment is always God.

Finally, Augustine dwells on the phrase: ‘I will feed them with judgment.’ Unlike human beings, who are prone to rash judgments and uncertainty about themselves and others, God alone knows each person fully and assigns what is fitting. Human expectations can be quickly overturned: someone thought hopeless may be converted, while someone admired may fall. For this reason, only God can feed with true discernment, giving to each sheep what is needed for its salvation.

From The Sermon Of Saint Augustine On The Shepherds | I Will Feed My Sheep In Good Pastures

I shall lead them forth from the Gentiles, and I shall gather them from foreign lands; I shall bring them into their own land, and I shall feed them on the mountains of Israel. It was God who brought forth the mountains of Israel, that is to say, the authors of the divine Scriptures. Feed there that you may feed in safety. Whatever you hear from that source, you should savor. Whatever is foreign to it, reject. Hear the voice of the shepherd, lest you wander about in the mist. Gather at the mountains of holy Scripture. There, are the things that will delight your hearts; there, you will find nothing poisonous, nothing hostile; there the pastures are most plentiful. There, you will be healthy sheep; you will feed safely on the mountain of Israel.

And I shall feed them in streams and in every inhabited place in the land. From the mountains which we have shown you, there have issued the streams of the gospel message because their voice has gone forth into the whole world, and every habitable place has become pleasant and fertile for the grazing sheep.

In good pastures and on the high mountains of Israel, I shall feed them. And their grazing ground shall be there, that is, the place where they will rest, where they will say: ‘I am happy’; where they will say: ‘It is true, it is clear, we are not deceived.’ They will find rest in the glory of God, when they find rest in those grazing grounds. And they will sleep, that is, find rest, and they will rest in good pleasures.

And they will be fed in rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. I have already spoken of the mountains of Israel, the good mountains to which we raise our eyes and from which may come our help. But our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Let us not then place our hope in the good mountains themselves, but let us rely on his word which says: I will feed my sheep on the mountains of Israel. Let us not merely remain on the mountains themselves, for he added immediately: I will feed my sheep. Raise your eyes, therefore, to the mountains, whence your help comes; but take note that he says: I will feed. For you help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He concludes by saying: And I will feed them with judgment. Observe that he alone so feeds the sheep, in feeding them with judgment. For what man can judge rightly concerning another? Our whole daily life is filled with rash judgments. He of whom we had despaired is converted suddenly and becomes very good. He from whom we had anticipated a great deal suddenly fails and becomes very bad. Neither our fear nor our hope is certain.

What any man is today, that man himself scarcely knows. Still in some way he does know what he is today. What he will be tomorrow, however, he does not know. Hence the Lord, who assigns to each what is owed to him, feeds his sheep with judgment, giving some things to one group, other things to another, and to each his due. For he knows what he is doing. With judgment he feeds those whom he, being judged himself, redeemed. Therefore, he himself feeds his sheep with judgment.

Christian Prayer With Jesus Christ

Shepherd of Israel,
you gather your people from every land
and feed them with the word of life.
Keep us safe in the pastures of your Scriptures,
refresh us with the streams of the Gospel,
and lead us always to rest in your presence.
You alone know our weakness and our need;
feed us with your judgment and sustain us in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Glossary Of Christian Terms

Mountains of Israel – In Augustine’s interpretation, the inspired authors of Scripture, from whom the faithful receive safe nourishment.

Streams of the Gospel – The preaching of the apostolic message flowing from Scripture to the whole world.

Pastures – A metaphor for the teachings of Scripture, where the faithful feed spiritually in safety.

‘I will feed my sheep’ – God’s promise to care directly for his people, reminding them that their trust rests not in human teachers but in God himself.

Feeding with judgment – God’s unique ability to give each believer what is just and necessary, in contrast to the uncertainty of human judgement.