December 2025 Reading on St. Augustine

St. Augustine, on the Feast of the Nativity, Sermon 190.3-4

“Therefore, let both sexes be reborn in him who was born today and let both celebrate this feast on which the Lord Christ, far from beginning to exist- since he had always existed with his Father- brought forth into the light of day the human nature which he had received from his Mother when he granted her fertility without depriving her of integrity. He is conceived and born; he is an infant. Who is this infant [infans] whom we so call because he is not able to speak [fari]? He is both a speechless child and he is the Word. In his humanity, he is silent, through his angels, he teaches. The leader and shepherd of shepherds is announced to the shepherds, and the food of the faithful lies in the manger of dumb beasts. For the prophet had predicted: “The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib” (Isaiah 1:3). For that reason he sat upon the colt of an ass when he entered Jerusalem amid the praises of the multitude surging around and before him. Let us understand; let us draw near to the manger; let us eat of this food; let us bear the Lord, our guide and leader- so that under his direction we may come to the heavenly Jerusalem. The birth of Christ from his mother is subject to human weakness, but from his Father he has unlimited majesty. In these fleeting days of ours he lives for a brief span but he is the Eternal Day born of Eternal Day…

Simeon had received a divine promise that he would not experience death until he had seen Christ the Lord and, when he had taken the infant Christ into his hands and had recognized the mighty little One, he said: “Now you let your servant go in peace, o Lord, according to your word; because my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-31). Gladly, then, let us announce his salvation, this Day born of the Eternal Day, let us declare “his glory among the gentiles, his wonders among all people” (Psalm 95:2-4). He lies in a manger but he holds the world in his hand; he is nourished at the breast but he feeds the angels; he is wrapped in swaddling clothes but he clothes us with immortality; he is suckled but adored, he does not find room in the inn but he makes a temple for himself in the hearts of believers. For Strength took on weakness that weakness might become strong. Therefore, let us marvel at rather than despise his human birth; from it let us learn the lowliness which such loftiness assumed for our sake. Then let us enkindle our love so that we may come to his eternal day.”