This
may be the oldest Christmas sermon ever preached. It's from St. John
Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος), Archbishop
of Constantinople, who was an important Early Church Father. He is known
for
his eloquence in preaching and public speaking.
St. John Chrysostom’s Christmas Homily (386AD)
BEHOLD
a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song,
piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The
Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim
hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to
praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in
heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and
he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.
Bethlehem
this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic
voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side,
the Sun of justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of
nature yields. For He willed, He had the power, He descended, He
redeemed; all things yielded in obedience to God. This day He Who is, is
Born; and He Who is, becomes what He was not. For when He was God, He
became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is His. Nor yet by
any loss of divinity became He man, nor through increase became He God
from man; but being the Word He became flesh, His nature, because of
impassability, remaining unchanged.
And so the kings
have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that has come upon the
earth, not bringing with Him Angels, nor Archangels, nor Thrones, nor
Dominations, nor Powers, nor Principalities, but, treading a new and
solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless womb.
Since
this heavenly birth cannot be described, neither does His coming
amongst us in these days permit of too curious scrutiny. Though I know
that a Virgin this day gave birth, and I believe that God was begotten
before all time, yet the manner of this generation I have learned to
venerate in silence and I accept that this is not to be probed too
curiously with wordy speech. For with God we look not for the order of
nature, but rest our faith in the power of Him who works.
What
shall I say to you; what shall I tell you? I behold a Mother who has
brought forth; I see a Child come to this light by birth. The manner of
His conception I cannot comprehend.
Nature here rested,
while the Will of God labored. O ineffable grace! The Only Begotten,
Who is before all ages, Who cannot be touched or be perceived, Who is
simple, without body, has now put on my body, that is visible and liable
to corruption. For what reason? That coming amongst us he may teach us,
and teaching, lead us by the hand to the things that men cannot see.
For since men believe that the eyes are more trustworthy than the ears,
they doubt of that which they do not see, and so He has deigned to show
Himself in bodily presence, that He may remove all doubt.
Christ,
finding the holy body and soul of the Virgin, builds for Himself a
living temple, and as He had willed, formed there a man from the Virgin;
and, putting Him on, this day came forth; unashamed of the lowliness of
our nature’. For it was to Him no lowering to put on what He Himself
had made. Let that handiwork be forever glorified, which became the
cloak of its own Creator. For as in the first creation of flesh, man
could not be made before the clay had come into His hand, so neither
could this corruptible body be glorified, until it had first become the
garment of its Maker.
What shall I say! And how shall I
describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment.
The Ancient of days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime
and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched,
Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to
the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound
by an infants bands. But He has decreed that ignominy shall become
honor, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure
of His Goodness.
For this He assumed my body, that I
may become capable of His Word; taking my flesh, He gives me His spirit;
and so He bestowing and I receiving, He prepares for me the treasure of
Life. He takes my flesh, to sanctify me; He gives me His Spirit, that
He may save me.
Come, then, let us observe the Feast.
Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the
ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to
flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is
taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been
brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every
side, a heavenly way of life has been ‘in planted on the earth, angels
communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels.
Why
is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every side
all things commingle. He became Flesh. He did not become God. He was
God. Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not contain, a
manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger, so that He,
by whom all things arc nourished, may receive an infant’s food from His
Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the breast,
nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see Him.
Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of
withstanding tyranny; and the heavens give glory, as the Lord is
revealed by a star.
To Him, then, Who out of confusion
has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy
Ghost, we offer all praise, now and for ever. Amen.
