# “Your God has become man” by Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430)

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2021/12/17/your-god-has-become-man-by-augustine-of-hippo/
- Published: 2021-12-17T12:00:13-06:00
- Author: tollelege

“That day is called the birthday of the Lord on which the Wisdom of God manifested
Himself as a speechless Child and the Word of God wordlessly uttered the sound of
a human voice.

His divinity, although hidden, was revealed by heavenly witness to the Magi and 
was announced to the shepherds by angelic voices.

With yearly ceremony, therefore, we celebrate this day which saw the fulfillment
of the prophecy: ‘Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down
from heaven.’ (**Psalm 84:12**)

Truth, eternally existing in the bosom of the Father, has sprung from the earth 
so that He might exist also in the bosom of a mother.

Truth, holding the world in place, has sprung from the earth so that He might be
carried in the hands of a woman.

Truth, incorruptibly nourishing the happiness of the angels, has sprung from the
earth in order to be fed by human milk.

Truth, whom the heavens cannot contain, has sprung from the earth so that He might
be placed in a manger.

For whose benefit did such unparalleled greatness come in such lowliness? Certainly
for no personal advantage, but definitely for our great good, if only we believe.

Arouse yourself, O man; for your God has become man. ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise 
from among the dead, and Christ will enlighten thee.’ (**Eph. 5:14**)

For you, I repeat, God has become man.

If He had not thus been born in time, you would have been dead for all eternity.

Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, if He had not taken upon Himself
the likeness of sinful flesh.

Everlasting misery would have engulfed you, if He had not taken this merciful form.

You would not have been restored to life, had He not submitted to your death; you
would have fallen, had He not succored you; you would have perished, had He not 
come.

Let us joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate
the festal day on which the great and timeless One came from the great and timeless
day to this brief span of our day.

He ‘has become for us righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; so that,
just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. (**1 Cor. 1:30-31**)'”

–Augustine of Hippo, “[Sermon 185: On the Birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ](https://amzn.to/3511PEc),”
[_Sermons on the Liturgical Seasons _](https://amzn.to/3511PEc)(ed. Hermigild Dressler;
trans. Mary Sarah Muldowney; vol. 38; The Fathers of the Church; Washington, DC:
The Catholic University of America Press, 1959), 38: 6-7.

More on [Advent](https://tollelege.net/category/advent/)