HOMILY VIII. Delivered to the people in the basilica of the blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of the Nativity of the Lord.
READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE. At that time, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This first enrollment was made by Quirinius, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. And it came to pass that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn. And there were shepherds in the same region, keeping watch and guarding their flock through the watches of the night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of God shone around them, and they feared with great fear. And the angel said to them: Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people, for today a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign to you: You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. Because, by the Lord's bounty, we are going to celebrate the solemnities of Mass three times today, we cannot speak at length about the Gospel reading. But our Redeemer's nativity itself compels us to say something, even briefly. What does it mean that the world is enrolled when the Lord is about to be born, except that this is openly shown: that he was coming in the flesh who would enroll his elect in eternity? Concerning the reprobate, by contrast, it is said through the Prophet: Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and let them not be written with the just. He is also fittingly born in Bethlehem: for Bethlehem is interpreted as "house of bread." For he himself is the one who says: I am the living bread who came down from heaven. The place, therefore, in which the Lord is born was previously called "house of bread," because it was surely going to happen that he would appear there through the substance of flesh, who would refresh the minds of the elect with inner satisfaction. He who is born not in his parents' house, but on the way, surely showed that through the humanity which he had assumed, he was being born as if in a foreign place. I say "foreign," of course, not according to power, but according to nature. For concerning his power it is written: He came unto his own. In his own nature, indeed, he was born before all ages; in our nature he came in time. He, therefore, who remaining eternal appeared temporal—the place where he descended is foreign to him. And because it is said through the prophet: All flesh is grass, he, having been made man, turned our grass into grain, he who said of himself: Unless a grain of wheat falling into the earth dies, it remains alone. Hence also, when born, he is laid in a manger, so that he might refresh all the faithful, namely his holy animals, with the grain of his flesh, lest they remain fasting from the food of eternal understanding. But what does it mean that the angel appears to shepherds keeping watch, and the glory of God shines around them, except that they deserve above others to see sublime things, who know how to preside over their faithful flocks with care? And while they themselves watch piously over their flock, divine grace flashes upon them more abundantly.
An angel announces the King's birth, and choirs of angels join their voices with his, and rejoicing together they cry out: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. Indeed, before our Redeemer was born in the flesh, we were at discord with the angels, from whose brightness and purity we stood far distant through the guilt of the first sin and through our daily transgressions. For since by sinning we were estranged from God, the angels, citizens of God, regarded us as strangers from their fellowship. But because we have come to know our King, the angels have recognized us as their fellow citizens. For since the King of heaven assumed the earth of our flesh, that angelic majesty no longer despises our weakness. The angels return to peace with us, they set aside the intent of their former discord; and those whom they had previously despised as weak and cast off, they now honor as companions. This is why Lot and Joshua worshipped angels and were not forbidden to worship; but John in his Apocalypse wished to worship an angel, yet that same angel restrained him from worshipping him, saying: See that you do not do this, for I am your fellow servant and of your brethren. Why is it that before the Redeemer's coming angels are worshipped by men and remain silent, but afterward they refuse to be worshipped, unless it is that our nature, which they had previously despised, they now fear to see prostrate before them after they behold it assumed above themselves? Nor do they now dare to scorn as weak what is beneath them, since they venerate it above themselves in the King of heaven. Nor do they disdain to have man as a companion, since they adore man as God above themselves. Let us therefore take care, dearest brothers, that no uncleanness defile us, who in God's eternal foreknowledge are citizens of God and equal to his angels. Let us vindicate our dignity by our conduct; let no lust stain us, let no shameful thought accuse us, let no malice gnaw at our mind, let no rust of envy consume us, let no pride puff us up, let no ambition tear us apart through earthly delights, let no anger inflame us. For men have been called gods. Therefore, O man, defend for yourself against vices the honor of God, because for your sake God became man, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.