God forbid, God preserve us! That I should say that even in this congregation,
316 SAINT AUGUSTINE - SERMONS of fish caught isn't mentioned; this time after the resurrection a definite number of fish is mentioned.
So let us carry on with the first, in order to arrive at the last. What's that I said, "Let us carry on with the first"? Why, here are the nets, the nets of the word, the nets of preaching, here are the nets. Let the psalm tell us: I proclaimed and I spoke; they were multiplied beyond counting (Ps 40:6). It's plain as a pikestaff that it's happening now; the gospel is being proclaimed, Christians are multiplying beyond counting. If they all lived good lives, they wouldn't be overloading the boat; if they weren't divided by heresies and schisms,5 the net wouldn't be breaking. Why, though, were there two boats in the first catch of fish? Think, brothers and sisters; they are those two walls, the circumcision and the uncircumcision, which converge on the cornerstone, and achieve the kiss of peace.6 But with the last catch of fish there is perfect unity; it's all on the right side, you see, there's nothing on the left, nothing sinister about it.7
That is the holy Church, which exists now in the few, toiling away among the evil many; which will be realized in that certain, definite number, in which there is now no sinner to be found; it's on the right, you see, with nothing of the left, nothing sinister about it. And they will be big fish, because they will all be immortal, all destined to live without end. What can be bigger than what has no end? And the evangelist made it his business to give your memory a flash-back to the first catch of fish. Why else did he add, after all, And though they were such big fish, the nets were not torn (Jn 21:11)? As though to say, "Remember that first catch of fish, when the nets were tom." This will be the kingdom of heaven, no heretics will be barking, no schismatics setting themselves apart. All will be inside, will be in the peace.8
The number 17, the key to the number 153, means the fulfillment of the law by the gifts of the Holy Spirit
2. And those "all," how many will they be? Will there only be 153 of them? God forbid, God preserve us! That I should say that even in this congregation, standing in front of me now, there should be as few as that who will get into the kingdom of heaven, where there will in fact be thousands,9 countless thousands, whom John saw, clothed in white robes. This is what he said: From every tribe and tongue they were coming, a number which nobody can count (Rv 7:9). So what's the meaning of this number? I'm teaching some of you, reminding others; let those who haven't heard it before learn it; those who have heard it and have forgotten recall it; while those who retain what they have heard in their memory can have it confirmed by my reminder.10
To work this number out, we begin at 17, 10 and 7; it's the mark of all the saints, all the faithful, all the just who will be in the kingdom of heaven. 10 and 7; 10 because of the law, 7 because of the Spirit of grace. Impose the law: nobody carries it out, nobody fulfills it. Add the assistance of the Spirit; what is com¬ manded is done, because God is assisting. What does the law say? You shall not covet (Ex 20.17). Sin, seizing its opportunity, deceived me through the com-