with the usage, and if it was translated "to the infants," readers might wonder what Augustine was
250 SAINT A UGUSTINE - SERMONS is to such as these, after all, that the apostle says, You were once darkness; but now light in the Lord (Eph 5:8). All of you that have been baptized, you were once darkness, but now light in the Lord. If light, then of course day, since God called the light day (Gn 1:5). You were darkness, he has made you into light, he has made you into day; it's about you that we have sung, This is the day which the Lord has made, let us exult and be joyful in it (Ps 118:24).
Shun darkness. Drunkenness belongs to the dark. Don't leave here sober and come back drunk; we'll be seeing you again this afternoon. The Holy Spirit has just begun to live in you; don't let him quit, don't shut him out of your hearts.
He's a good guest, he found you empty, he fills you; found you hungry, he feeds you; and finally, he found you thirsty, he makes you drunk. Let him make you drunk, because the apostle says, Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to all kinds of debauchery. And as though wishing to teach us what we should get drunk on, but be filled, he says, with the Holy Spirit, singing together in hymns and psalms and spiritual songs, singing in your hearts to the Lord (Eph 5:18-19). Isn't the person who rejoices in the Lord and sings the Lord's praises with tremendous gusto rather like a drunkard? Let me offer you proof of this kind of drunkenness: Since with you, O God, is the the fountain of life, and from the torrent of your pleasure you will give them to drink. Where from? Because with you, O God, is the fountain of life, and in your light shall we see light (Ps
36:8-9).7 The Spirit of God is both drink and light. If you came across a fountain in the dark, you would light a lamp, in order to get to it. Don't light a lamp for the fountain of light. It lights your way itself, and leads you to itself.8 When you come there to drink, approach and be enlightened. Approach him and be en¬ lightened (Ps 34:5); don't withdraw, or you will be darkened.
Lord God, call them, and let them approach you; strengthen them, so that they don't withdraw from you. Make these new children of yours into old people from babies9—but not into dead people from old ones. It is, after all, right to grow old in this wisdom, but not right to die in it.
NOTES
1. The infantes are the newly baptized. I keep the Latin term, because we are no longer familiar with the usage, and if it was translated "to the infants," readers might wonder what Augustine was doing, preaching to babies.
One of the older editions of the sermons, before that of the Maurists, entitled this one "On the lord's Nativity"; and one of the manuscripts gives it the title, "On the Trinity." But section 4 makes it clear that it was indeed preached to the infantes, and that means on Easter day. The Maurist editors inform us, I am sure correctly, that the gospel read on Easter day, at least at one Mass, was the prologue of John, which would explain the theme. They refer us to Sermons 119, 120, and 121, all on that text, and all preached on Easter Day. See in this series Sermon 119, notes 1 and 5; Sermon
120, notes 8 and 10, and Sermon 121, note 5.