Easter 2026 - Reading #31 - Counsel
Reading
Saint Augustine, in his work On Christian Doctrine, reflects on how the gift of counsel relates to the interpretation of Scripture and the discernment of truth: "Whoever, then, thinks that he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but puts such an interpretation upon them as does not tend to build up this twofold love of God and our neighbor, does not yet understand them as he should. If his defective interpretation tends to build up love, he goes astray in much the same way as a man who leaves a road by mistake but passes through a field to the same place toward which the road itself leads."
Augustine adds: "The sum of all we have said since we began to speak of things comes to this: it is to be understood that the plenitude and the end of the Law and of all the sacred Scriptures is the love of a Being which is to be enjoyed and of a being that can share that enjoyment with us. That we might know this and have the means of implementing it, the whole temporal dispensation was made by Divine Providence for our salvation."
For Augustine, the gift of counsel always orients toward love. Any decision, any interpretation, any course of action that does not build up love of God and neighbor has gone astray, however logical or impressive it may appear.
Reflection
Thirty-two days into Easter. Augustine provides the ultimate criterion for discerning the Spirit's counsel: Does it build up love? Every decision, every interpretation, every course of action must be tested against this standard. If it builds up love of God and love of neighbor, it is from the Spirit. If it does not, it is not, however reasonable, impressive, or spiritually sophisticated it may appear.
This is a remarkably simple and remarkably demanding test. Simple, because it requires no advanced theology to apply. Demanding, because it cuts through every rationalization, every justification, every clever argument we construct to support the decision we have already made. The gift of counsel, operating through Augustine's principle, asks not "Is this logical?" or "Is this efficient?" or "Is this what I want?" but "Does this love well?"
Consider the decisions currently before you. The career move, the relational choice, the financial decision, the use of your time and attention. Apply Augustine's test: Which option builds up love? Which option serves the genuine good of the people involved, not just your own convenience, but the flourishing of every person your decision will affect? The gift of counsel does not promise easy answers, but it does promise a clear criterion. Love is the compass. If your decision points toward love, genuine, costly, sacrificial, Christlike love, you can move forward with confidence. If it does not, no amount of logic will make it right.