morning, presumably a eucharist; then, as we learn from Sermon 225, 4, they are all going to
SERMON 226 253
Were you, or weren't you? Recall your past deeds, if you don't think you were. Take a look at your consciences, and the things you have renounced. So then, because you were once darkness, but now light, not in yourselves, but in the Lord; walk as children of the light (Eph 5:8).
These few words must be enough for you, because we also have more work later on, and have to explain to the infantes today about the sacraments of the altar.1 2 3 4 5
NOTES
1. The date suggested by Fischer and Kunzelmann. 2. About the reading of the prologue of John's gospel on Easter Day, see Sermon 225, note 1. 3. He has in mind, of course, the text of Jn 3:5, about being bom again of water and the Spirit. 4. At this point, I am sure, loud applause. 5. An extraordinarily packed timetable on Easter Day! First the vigil, then this service in the morning, presumably a eucharist; then, as we learn from Sermon 225, 4, they are all going to reassemble in the afternoon. Is that when he is going to explain about the eucharist? But he does this in Sermon 227, clearly within the context of a Mass. So did they have two Masses on Easter Day, both to be attended by the infantes, not to mention the bishop, as well as the vigil, and an afternoon service? Or was this little homily preached at the beginning of the Easter morning Mass, introduced by Jn 1:1-18, with an explanation of the eucharist to follow later in the same service? Questions—but from me, I fear, no answers.
"We also have more work later on": etpost laboraturi sumus. A modem editor suggests laborem for laboraturi, "we have a lot of hard work behind us"; which indeed they did. But the only reason I can think of for such an emendation, unless it has manuscript support, which does not appear to be the case, is that this editor is unhappy about post being used as an adverb, when it is really a preposition. I don't think that would have worried Augustine.