Our Gospel Jump-Start this week comes from early Church Father, Augustine. Reflecting on the glories of the incarnation, he wrote:
Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became a man.
You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come.
Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which he who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time. (taken from Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas, pg. 72)
May the Lord awaken us anew to the glories of the incarnation this advent season.
Written by Matt Baker