whom the psalm sings, Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the
SERMON 189
ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Date: before 410x
Who can this day from day be ?
1. This day has been sanctified for us by the day who made all days, about whom the psalm sings, Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord and bless his name; proclaim the good news of the day from day,2 his salvation (Ps 96:1-2). Who can this day from day be, but the Son from the Father, light from light? But that day who begot the day which would be bom of the virgin on this day; so that day has neither rising nor setting; the day I mean is God the Father. Jesus, after all, would not be day from day, unless the Father were day.
What is day but light? Not for eyes of flesh, not the light which is common to human beings and animals, but the light which shines on angels, the light which hearts are cleansed for seeing.3 This night, you see, is passing, the night in which we are living now, in which the lamps of the scriptures are lit for us; and that is coming, of which another psalm sings: In the morning I will stand by and gaze upon you (Ps 5:3).
What justice can there be without faith?
2. So that day, the Word of God, the day which shines on the angels, the day which shines in the home country we are in exile from, clothed himself with flesh and was bom of Mary the virgin. Bom in a wonderful way; what could be more wonderful than a virgin giving birth? She conceives, and is a virgin; she gives birth, and is a virgin. The one who created her, you see, was created from her, and he brought her fertility, he did not spoil her integrity.
Where did Mary come from? From Adam. Where did Adam come from? From earth. If Adam's from earth, and Mary's from Adam, then Mary too is earth. If Mary is earth, let us realize what we are singing: Truth has sprung from the earth. What sort of benefit has this brought us? Truth has sprung from the earth, and Justice has looked forth from heaven (Ps 85:11). The Jews, you see, as the apostle says, not knowing the justice of God, and wishing to establish