Christmas with St. Augustine
When in doubt, I look to St. Augustine. It is one of my rules of life. During this 12-day festival known as Christmastide, St. Augustine has many theologically rich ideas to share. He was a prolific writer and preacher, after all. When telling his congregation why Jesus decided to become human, he said this:
“Just imagine the incredible kindness and mercy! He was the only Son, but He did not want to remain alone. So that humans might be born of God, God was born of humans. Begotten of God is He through Whom, we were created; born of a woman is He through Whom, we are re-created. The Word first wished to be born of humans, so that you might be assured of being born of God.”[1]
There is such beauty in how St. Augustine weaves Christ into humanity and vice versa so that we are inextricably linked. Jesus is born so that we may be reborn. He entered creation so that we may be welcomed into His new creation. Simultaneously, there is simplicity and complexity when we consider the Incarnation. It makes all the sense in the world while being a grand mystery that we can never fully comprehend. Think of Mary’s response to the angel, “How can this be?” (Luke 1:34)
Reflecting on the Good News of great joy that is brought to the shepherds of Bethlehem, we, too, may ask, “How can this be? How can God become human?” Yet, notice where Augustine begins. He doesn’t address how this miracle is done but rather why it was done. It was out of God’s abundant kindness and mercy that He didn’t want to be alone. He was driven by His love for us to descend onto Earth so that we may ascend into Heaven. It is not in God’s nature to be isolated and alone because for there to be love there must be someone to love.
If there are times in our faith when we question the how we may need to be reminded of the why. The only reason God does anything at all is because of His loving-kindness for us. And what a great Christmas reminder that is.
