We are not yet ready for the banquet of our Father,
so let us contemplate the manger of Jesus Christ our Lord.
What human being could know all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ, concealed under the poverty of his humanity? For being rich, he became poor for our sake, that by his poverty we might become rich. When he assumed our mortality to overcome death, he manifested himself in poverty, but he promised riches, even though deferred, for he did not lose them as if they were taken from Him. O how great is the multitude of his sweetness, which he hides from those who fear him but reveals to those that hope in him! For we understand only in part, until that which is perfect comes to us.
To make us worthy of this perfect gift, while being equal to the Father in the form of God, he became like to us in the form of a servant to refashion us into the likeness of God. The one Son of God, having become the Son of Man, makes many sons of men the sons of God; and on these men reared as servants and with the visible form of servants, he bestows the freedom of beholding the form of God. For we are the children of God, but it has not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
What then are those treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ, those divine riches, unless they be what satisfies our longing? And what is that multitude of sweetness, unless it be what fills us? Show us the Father and it is enough for us. In one of the psalms one of our race said to him, in our name or for our sake: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear. But he and the Father are one, and the person who sees him sees the Father also. Therefore he, the Lord of hosts, is the King of Glory. Turning to us, He will show us his face and we shall be saved. We shall be satisfied, and he will be sufficient for us.
Therefore, let our heart speak thus to him; I have sought thy countenance; thy face, O Lord, will I still seek. Turn not away thy face from me. And let Him reply to the plea of our hearts: He who loves me keeps my commandments; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Indeed, those to whom he addressed these words did see him with their eyes; they heard the sound of his voice with their ears; they regarded him as a man in their human heart. But, what eye has not seen, what ear has not heard, and what has not entered into the heart of man, he promised to show to those who love him.
Until this favor is granted to us, until he shows us what will completely satisfy us, until we drink to satiety of that fountain of life—while we yet wander about, apart from Him but strong in faith, while we yet hunger and thirst for justice, longing with an unspeakable desire for the beautiful vision of God—let us celebrate with fervent devotion his birthday in the form of a servant. Since we cannot as yet understand that he was by the Father begotten before the day-star, let us celebrate his birth of the Virgin in the hours of the night. Since we do not comprehend how his name existed before the light of the sun, let us recognize his tabernacle pitched in the sun. Since we do not as yet gaze upon the Son inseparably united with his Father, let us remember him as the bridegroom coming out of his bride-chamber. Since we are not yet ready for the banquet of our Father, let us dwell upon the manger of our Lord Jesus Christ.
From a Sermon of Saint Augustine
Office of Readings, Thursday from January 2 to Epiphany
Office of Readings, Thursday from January 2 to Epiphany