St. Augustine: God became man so that man might become God

Francia (Italian High Renaissance Painter, 1450-1517).
Adoration of the Child
Bologna, Pinacoteca Nazionale)
Note: St. Augustine is the bishop depicted

(SOURCE)

I may have to make corrections to what is below as I typed it in a hurry this morning from the Breviary. I don't typically like not capitalizing certain words and names that refer to the Divine, but for now must leave it as it appears in the Office. Part of restoring a sense of the sacred would be a return to showing respect in written words.

From today's Office of Readings, a thought provoking sermon from the great Doctor of the Church...

From a Sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
(Sermo 13 de Tempore: PL 39, 1097-1098)

Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal creator of all things, today became our Savior by being born of a mother. Of his own will he was born for us today, in time, so that he could lead us to his Father's eternity. God became man so that man might become God. The Lord of angels became man today so that man could eat the bread of angels.

Today, the prophecy is fulfilled that said: Pour down, heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just one: let the earth be opened and bring forth a savior. The Lord who had created all things is himself now created, so that he who was lost would be found. Thus, man, in the words of the psalmist, confesses: Before I was humbled, I sinned. Man sinned and became guilty; God is born a man to free man from his guilt. Man fell, but God descended, man fell miserably, but God descended mercifully; man left through pride, God descended with his grace.

My brethren, what miracles! What prodigies! The laws of nature are changed in the case of man. God is born. A virgin becomes pregnant with man. The Word of God marries the woman who knows no man. She is now at the same time both mother and virgin. She becomes a mother, yet she remains a virgin. The virgin bears a son, yet she is not barren. He alone was born without sin, for she bore him without the embrace of a man, not by the concupiscence of the flesh but by the obedience of the mind.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

St. Augustine

St. Augustine in his Study (1502-8)
by Vittore Carpaccio

One of the most profound reflections by St. Augustine found in his Confessions was this quote. I had begun reading these some months ago, then had to set it aside because I could not read it at lunch time any longer. It's time to dig it out. This particular work is something I highly recommend, especially if you have drifted and wandered in your faith in any way. Augustine shows us how to find our way back to God because chances are, he's been there; done that, with some exceptions. He exemplifies the humility needed by a soul before Our Lord, and conveys an understanding of God's mercy.

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me,but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

This is also a good time to remind you that Leonardo Defilippis is coming back to the metro Detroit area to put on a one-man performance on St. Augustine in several locations. I'll bring you an updated list when I get an opportunity. Click here for my original post.

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