Saint Maximus of Turin (?-c.420)
Bishop
Sermon 10, on the Nativity of the Lord, PL 57,24
“Begotten from the Father before all ages..., he was incarnate from the Virgin Mary ” (Creed of Constantinople)
We read, dearest brethren, that there are two births in Christ: both are the expression of a divine power that completely outstrips us. On the one hand, God generates his Son out of his own self; on the other, a virgin has conceived him by God's intervention... On the one hand, he is born to create life, and on the other to take away death. In the former, he is born of his Father; in the latter, he is brought into the world by human beings. By his generation from the Father he is at human origins; by his human birth he sets humanity free. Both of these kinds of birth are, properly speaking, inexpressible and at the same time inseparable...
In teaching that there are two births in Christ we do not intend to say that the Son of God is born twice over, but we are affirming the twofold nature in one and the same Son of God. On the one hand, what already existed is born; on the other, what did not as yet exist is brought forth. The blessed evangelist John affirms this in these words: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” and again: “The Word was made flesh.”
Thus God who was with God came forth from him and the flesh of God that did not belong to God is fruit of a woman. So the Word became flesh, not in such a way that God was incorporated into man, but so that man might be gloriously raised to God. That is why God was not born twice but by means of these two kinds of birth – namely, that of God and that of man – the only Son of the Father desired to be both God and man in a single person. “Who, then, can tell his birth?” (Is 53:8 Vg).
Daily Marriage Tip for December 31, 2018:
New Year’s Eve is a great time for a family “year in review.” What were some highs and lows from the year? How did you grow as a family? What do you hope for in the new year?