Full of Hot Air Instead of Solid Understanding?

By Saint Augustine

Confess your infirmity, lie there patiently in the presence of the doctor. When you have caught hold of his humility, you start rising up with him. Not as he has to rise, insofar as he is the Word; but it's you, rather, who do so, so that he may be grasped by you more and more. At first your understanding was very shaky and hesitant; later you come to understand with greater certainty and clarity. It's not he who is growing, but you who are making progress, and it's as though he seems to be rising up with you. That's how it is, brothers and sisters. Trust God's instructions, and carry them out, and he will give muscle to your understanding. Don't be presumptuous, and as it were, give knowledge prioirty over God's instructions, or you will remain full of hot air, instead of solid understanding.

Think of a tree; it first seeks out the lowest level, in order to grow upward; it fixes its roots in the lowly soil, in order to stretch out its topmost branches to the sky. Can it reach upward from anywhere except its humble roots? You, though, wish to comprehend the heights without charity; you are challenging the winds without roots. That's the way to come crashing down, not to grow. With Christ dwelling in your hearts through faith, be rooted and grounded in love, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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