people here for the feast,121 really must speak. The first of January is coming
62 SAINT A UG USTINE - SERMONS
For whose sake? The one who regulates the stars is sucking his mother's breasts; he fills the angels, speaks in the Father's bosom, is silent in his mother's. But he is going to speak when he reaches the right age, and to fill up the gospel for us.11 Going to suffer for our sakes, going to die for our sakes, going to rise again as the model for our reward, going to ascend into heaven before the eyes of the disciples, going to come from heaven in judgment. There you have the one who was lying in a manger; he made himself small, but didn't lose himself; he took on what he was not, but remained what he was. There you are, we have Christ as an infant; let us grow up with him.
New Year's Day
4. Let that be enough for your graces. Because I can see that there are many people here for the feast,121 really must speak. The first of January is coming soon. You are all Christians; by God's grace, the city is Christian; there are just two sorts of people here, Christians and Jews.13 Don't let the sort of thing occur that God hates; wicked games, offensive jokes.14 People shouldn't make judges for themselves, or they may fall into the hands of the real Judge. Listen, you're Christians, you're members of Christ. Think about what you are, think about how much you have been bought for. Finally, if you want to know what you're doing—I m talking to those who in fact do these things; those of you who don't like them mustn t take what I say as wronging you; I'm talking to those who do do them and those who approve of them. So do you want to know what you're doing, and what sort of grief you cause me? Do the Jews take part in all this? Let that at least shame you into stopping it happening.15
On the birthday of John the Baptist, six months ago that is (that, you see, is how many months there are between the herald and the Judge), Christians took part in a superstitious pagan festival by going to the sea and baptizing each other.1® I was away; but, as I learned, the presbyters, being zealous for the discipline of Christians, imposed a fitting ecclesiastical penance on some per¬ sons. People grumbled about it, and some said, "Was it so much trouble to warn us? If we were forewarned in good time, we wouldn't do it. Had the presbyters themselves forewarned us, we wouldn't have done it." Well, here's the bishop forewarning you; I m warning you, I'm telling you beforehand, I'm formally commanding you. Let the bishop s orders be listened to, the bishop's warning be listened to, the bishop s entreaty be listened to, the bishop's adjuration be listened to. I adjure you by the very one who was bom today, I am putting you under a strict obligation; you must none of you do these things. I absolve myself from blame; it's better that you should heed my warning, than that you should experience my sorrow and indignation.