(photo taken at site of Nabot’s fields, Israel)

This quote comes from a sermon by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.[1]  Sounds a lot like an expression commonly heard in 12 step communities: You can’t just talk the talk and expect to get anywhere – you’ve got to walk it.

Augustine encourages us to “sing to the Lord a new song,” but to be careful that our actions don’t contradict our words.  He admonishes us: “sing with your voices, your hearts, your lips and your lives.”

Augustine is telling us that, if we are careful to practice the principles of living well – if we strive daily to love God with all our hearts and souls and minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves — then we not only will be praising God through our actions, we ourselves will become God’s praise.

Hallelujah!