ST. AUGUSTINE’S PAST STUDENTS UNION (APSU)
FEAST DAY COMMEMORATIVE MASS
AT ST. MARGARET MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, DANSOMAN
ON SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2024 AT 9.30AM
HOMILY BY BISHOP JOHN KOBINA LOUIS (APSU ’83)
THEME: ST. AUGUSTINE, INFLUENCING SOCIETY; AND FAITHFULNESS TO GOD’S WORD
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
READINGS: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8/James 1:17-18,21-22,27 /Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23
INTRODUCTION
St. Augustine of Hippo, the patron saint of our alma mater, St. Augustine’s College (Cape Coast) died on 28th August, 430AD. So, his memorial/feast is celebrated on 28th August in accordance with the custom of the Catholic Church. This year, his feast day fell on last Wednesday, but for obvious reasons we have chosen to commemorate the feast today, which is actually the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Therefore, in this homily, besides considering briefly the life of St. Augustine of Hippo and how he inspires us to become catalysts of change in society, we will reflect on a theme of the readings of the day: Faithfulness to God’s Word.
HIGHLIGHTS
- St. Augustine of Hippo
- A Call on APSU to influence Society
- Faithfulness to God’s Word
- Add Not to God’s Word
- Take Not from God’s Word
- Be Doers of God’s Word
- ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
Archbishop William T. Porter, SMA, and Rev. Fr. Maurice B. Kelly, and other founding fathers of St. Augustine’s College decided to choose an illustrious African patron saint whose life story and works could inspire the ten of thousands of students who would be educated in the college across generations.
Born on 13th November, 354AD at Tagaste (in present day Algeria) and given the name, Aurelius Augustinus, the future St. Augustine was greatly endowed intellectually. He studied first in Tagaste, and later “at Carthage, the great city of Roman Africa. After a brief stint teaching in Tagaste, he returned to Carthage to teach rhetoric” (Encyclopedia Britannica).
The young Augustine had an extraordinary brilliant mind which set him on the journey of searching for the truth. “At the age of 28, restless and ambitious, Augustine left Africa in 383 to make his career in Rome. He taught there briefly before landing a plum appointment as imperial professor of rhetoric at Milan. The customary residence of the emperor at the time, Milan was the de facto capital of the Western Roman Empire and the place where careers were best made” (Encyclopedia Britannica).
Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, was a devout Christian, while his father, Patricius Aurelius, was not a Christian until he requested for baptism on his deathbed. Thus, the young Augustine did not practice the Christian faith until his conversion in 386AD and his baptism at the age of 33 years. Before his conversion, the young Augustine pursued several philosophies as a way of life, settling on Manichaeism. He also fathered a son, Adeodatus (372-388AD), who died in his teens.
St. Monica prayed with tears for many years for Augustine’s conversion. When she visited him, she encouraged him to listen to the public teachings of St. Ambrose, then the Bishop of Milan. He listened to the teachings of the bishop, and then one day he had an inner experience of conversion at his residence. He would then resign from his teaching in Milan, return to Algeria, where he was ordained as a priest in 391AD. Then, at the age of 42 years, he became the Bishop of Hippo (Algeria). He would remain the Bishop of Hippo until his death in 430AD.
Employing his intellectual capabilities and his rhetoric skill as a priest and bishop, St. Augustine would author hundreds of influential theological and philosophical works across a great range of topics. Almost 1,600 after his time, his works continue to influence Church doctrines, theological, philosophical and some social sciences. This how highly the Encyclopedia Britannica rates him: he is “perhaps the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul.” The comparison with St. Paul is apt, as the latter was not only the most prolific New Testament writer but a convert whom the Lord Jesus used to impart the Church greatly.
- A CALL ON APSU TO INFLUENCE SOCIETY
The life, works and influence of the patron saint of our alma mater should inspire us to initiate and foster positive changes for holistic human development or progress in Ghana and beyond.
Firstly, for the past 90 years, APSUnians have contributed to quality education in Augusco through mentoring, teaching, management, scholarships/awards, infrastructural development, provision of ICT facilities, etc. There is, though, more to be done to influence the strategic direction of Augusco’s future.
Secondly, individually many APSUnians have been influential agents of developments in various fields or sectors across the globe.
Thirdly, however, APSU is yet to be seen as a collective positive influencer in the larger society. The story of our patron, St. Augustine should inspire us as a body to become an action-oriented global think-tank on education, health, governance, economic, development, environment, socio-cultural and other issues. Our initial goal should be to trigger a process of change for the betterment of Ghana – a process that should progress long after our generation, just as St. Augustine continues to impart the world centuries after his death.
Furthermore, the Christ-factor or God-factor became paramount for St. Augustine. Thus, after years of search for the meaning of life and true happiness in diverse philosophies and endeavours without success, he would exclaimed: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you” (Confession). It was as if this great African mind touched by the grace of God was saying: “All learning is useless until it fulfills the purpose of the Creator of brains; and an endeavour is fruitless until it fulfills the purpose of the Giver of life.” No wonder then that St. Augustine’s writings in philosophy prior to his conversion to Christianity are extinct. However, over a hundred of his literary works post his conversion have survived; and these have largely been the basis of his great influence. So, to be as successful as our patron, we should make the Christ-factor paramount in our lives.
- FAITHFULNESS TO GOD’S WORD
The truly converted person strives, with the grace of God, to be faithful to His Word. Faithfulness to God’s Word means that we neither add to nor take away from it; rather, we act on it.
3.1 Add Not to God’s Word
A manufacturer of an equipment or a vehicle knows best how it works and he/she gives instructions (though the accompanying manual) for its optimum usage. Any addition to the instructions may cause damage. For instance, adding diesel to the water in a vehicle’s radiator could be dangerous. Thus, God our Creator, whose intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are infinitely superior to ours, has given His Word to us as our manual of instructions. Adding to it will certainly be disastrous to us.
Hence, according to today’s first reading, Moses instructed the Israelites as follows: “So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must [not] add anything to what I command you” (Deut. 4:1-2a). Unfortunately, from the days of Adam and Eve, humans have been prone to adding to God’s Word to our detriment (cf. Gen. 3). Thus, in today’s gospel reading, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes for following their ancestors’ traditions (precepts) as if they were equivalent to God’s Word (cf. Mark 7:1-7). In effect, they had made the traditions additions to God’s Word.
Even in our days, there are cases of Christians adding to God’s Word:
- Misinterpretations of God’s Word
- Introduction of elements of African Traditional Religion which are incompatible to the Christian faith
- Legislations which contradict God’s Word, e.g., the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex unions, etc.
3.2 Take Not from God’s Word
Going back to the analogy of the manufacturer’s instruction manual, neglecting or skipping an instruction could cause damage to a vehicle. Hence, Moses did not only tell his people not to add to God’s Word, but also not to take away from it: “You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it …” (Deut. 4:2).
Hence, Jesus reproached the Pharisees and Scribes for neglecting to obey God’s commandments, while they strictly observed their traditions: “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.… You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition” (Mark 7:8-9).
Even in our days, there are cases of Christians rejecting God’s Word:
- Misinterpretations of God’s Word
- Individuals picking and choosing from God’s Word as suits them; e.g., someone may be regular at church, but may choose to lead an immoral life, etc.
- Legislations which neglect divine instructions, e.g., the legalization of abortion neglects the God-given principle of the sanctity of human life (cf. Deut. 5:17); etc.
3.3 Be Doers of God’s Word
Faithfulness to God’s Word, then, entails acting or living by it. Hence, Moses would stress: “You must … keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you” (Deut. 4:2b). St. James would, in turn, emphasize: “welcome with meekness the implanted Word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (James 1:21b-22). Let us, therefore, persevere in doing God’s Word.
CONCLUSION
May the life, works and influence of St. Augustine inspire to initiate and foster positive changes for holistic human progress in Ghana and beyond! Finally, may our crusade for authentic positive change in society be strongly based on our faithfulness to God’s Word! Amen!
