Through the Church Fathers: June 5

Holiness is not surface-level behavior—it reaches into the heart, exposes the will, and reshapes how we carry pain. Today’s reading from brings that into sharp focus. Theophilus shows that the Christian life is not merely about outward restraint but inward purity—chastity of the eyes, love of enemies, and a life so distinct that even false accusations collapse under its weight (Matthew 5:28). Augustine then presses deeper, dismantling the idea that we are divided into two different natures; instead, it is one soul, fractured by competing loves, wavering between opposing wills (James 1:8). Aquinas finally gives the remedy: sorrow is not meant to crush us but to be carried rightly—through shared burdens, honest expression, and the lifting of the mind toward what is true and lasting (Galatians 6:2). Together, these readings force a sobering clarity: the issue is not what we face, but what we love—and whether we will bring even our pain under the rule of God.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — To Autolycus, Book 3, Chapters 13–16Augustine — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 10 (Section 23)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 38 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.comPatreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpattonCredo Courses – https://www.credocourses.comCredo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org#ChurchFathers #Augustine #Aquinas #TheologyUnplugged #ChristianDiscipleship