Why should this matter to us?
"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!