"Why should this matter to us?"
Believe it or not, I think that is an excellent question. In fact I spent a whole session on it in my vlog series on the subject called The Cornerstone.
The reason it matters is that it changes our entire perspective of all creation. Before God created, did He will His Masterpiece in all creation, namely the Incarnation, primarily as a remedy for sin? Or was Christ the firstborn in God's eternal plan, sin or no sin? If the primary or exclusive reason for the Incarnation was Redemption from sin, then Christ exists for us, the greater exists for the lesser, the King of kings exists (insofar as His fleshly existence) for the subjects. Whereas if God's plan was that Christ be the King of all creation, sin or no sin, then we exist for Him, the lesser exists for the greater, the subjects (Angels and men) exist for Him. (see, for example, 1 Cor. 3:22-23 & Col. 1:16-17).
Now that matters and will affect our view of God, the Incarnation, the Virgin Mary, the Angels & Saints, and spirituality, psychology, evangelization, etc. St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, Bl. John Duns Scotus, etc. dealt specifically with this question because it does matter.
May the Lord give you His peace!
Thank you Father for trying to explain this to me. I still think it just makes a circle. I have always wondered at and treasured the impossible thought that Jesus was born for one purpose, to save the whole world, me included. But that first commandment about loving God with our entire being still satifies the “we are made for Him”, wouldn’t you say? Our whole purpose in life has always been that, hasn’t it? He is one of us now, the most wonderful thing ever to happen, bar none. Whether or not God would have come among us if we did’nt fall into sin and evil, really doesn’t matter to me, because what ifs never really matter anyway, do they? If so, how? Nothing can change what has happened, the past is the past. Guess I need to read your article and I look forward to it.
Please note that I’m not trying to disrespect your theory or questions about this conjecture Father, I just don’t see what it has to do with any of us trying to work out our salvation.
God Bless you forever, thank you for your holy ministry!