Moralia in Job 1452

At that time, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This first enrollment was made by Cyrinus, governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, that the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 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 the night-watches over their flock. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood beside them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people; for this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the 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 today to celebrate the solemnities of Mass three times, we cannot speak at length about the Gospel reading. Yet the very nativity of our Redeemer compels us to say at least something briefly. What is it that, when the Lord was to be born, the world is enrolled, unless this is openly shown: that He was coming in the flesh who would enroll His elect in eternity? On the contrary, concerning the reprobate 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' (Psalm 69:28). He is also fittingly born in Bethlehem: for Bethlehem is interpreted 'house of bread.' For He Himself it is who says: 'I am the living bread who came down from heaven' (John 6:41, 51).

The place, therefore, in which the Lord is born was formerly called the house of bread, because it was certainly to be that He would appear there through the substance of the flesh, who would refresh the minds of the elect with inward satiety. He who is born not in the home of His parents but on the road, that He might indeed show that through the humanity He had assumed He was born as it were in a strange place. I call it strange, not according to power, but according to nature. For concerning His power it is written: 'He came unto His own' (John 1:11). For in His own nature He was born before all times; into ours He came in time. He, therefore, who, remaining eternal, appeared temporal, is a stranger where He descended. And because it is said through the prophet: 'All flesh is grass' (Isaiah

40:6), He, being made man, turned our grass into wheat, who said of Himself: 'Unless a grain of wheat falling into the ground die, it remains alone' (John 12:24). Whence, being born, He is laid in a manger, that He might refresh all the faithful, namely the holy animals, with the wheat of His flesh, lest they remain hungry, deprived of the food of eternal understanding. And what is it that the angel appears to the watching shepherds, and the brightness of God shines round about them, unless that those merit above others to see sublime things who know how to preside solicitously over the faithful flocks? And while they themselves piously watch over the flock, the divine grace shines the more bountifully upon them.

The angel announces the newborn King, and to his voice the choirs of angels sing in unison, and rejoicing together they cry: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.' For before our Redeemer was born through the flesh, we had discord with the angels, from whose brightness and purity we were far removed by the merit of the first fault and by our daily transgressions. For because by sinning we were strangers from God, the angels, the citizens of God, reckoned us as strangers from their fellowship. But because we have acknowledged our King, the angels have acknowledged us again as their fellow citizens. For because the King of heaven assumed the earth of our flesh, that angelic loftiness now does not despise our weakness.

The angels return to peace with us, they lay aside the intent of their former discord; and those whom before they had despised as weak and abject, they now venerate as companions. For hence it is that Lot (Genesis 19:1) and Joshua (Joshua 5:15) adore the angels, and yet are not forbidden to adore them; but John in his Apocalypse wished to adore an angel, yet the same angel restrained him lest he should adore him, saying: 'See that you do it not; for I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren' (Revelation 22:9).

What is it that before the coming of the Redeemer the angels are adored by men and are silent, but afterward they refuse to be adored, unless that they dread to see our nature — which before they had despised — laid beneath them, after they behold it assumed above themselves? Nor do they now dare to despise as it were weak that which they venerate above themselves in the King of heaven. Nor do they disdain to have man as a companion, who adore man as God above themselves. Let us take care, therefore, dearly beloved brethren, lest any uncleanness defile us who in the eternal foreknowledge are both citizens of God and equal to His angels.

Let us vindicate our dignity by our conduct; let no lust defile us, let no shameful thought accuse us, let no malice gnaw the one who bears it, let no rust of envy consume us, let no elation puff us up, let no ambition tear us apart through earthly delights, let no anger inflame us. For men have been called gods. Defend, therefore, for yourself, O man, the honor of God against the vices, because for your sake God became man, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.