St Augustine for Ash Wednesday

Here is an extract from the first of to-day's Lessons at Matins, from St Augustine's work on the Lord's Sermon on the Mount:

Maniféstum est... omnem nostram intentiónem in interióra gáudia dírigi: ne foris quæréntes mercédem, huic sæculo conformémur, et amittámus promissiónem tanto solidióris atque firmióris, quanto interióris beatitúdinis, qua nos elégit Deus confórmes fíeri imáginis Fílii sui.

...it is evident that our every action should be directed towards the attainment of an interior life, which alone giveth true happiness. For if contrariwise we seek our reward in outward things, we shall be conformed to the fashion of this world [Romans xii, 2], and thus forfeit God's promise of happiness, to wit, that we shall be conformed to the image of his Son [Romans viii, 29]. Such happiness, inasmuch as it concerneth inward things, is all the more certain and enduring.