Friday, September 6 : Saint Augustine

“We have seen,” he says, “and we are witnesses.” Where did they see? In a manifestation. What does that mean, “in a manifestation”? In the sun -that is, in this light. But how could he who made the sun be seen in the sun if not for the fact that “he pitched his tent in the sun and, like a bridegroom coming forth from his marriage bed, rejoiced like a giant to run his course” (Ps 19:4-5)? He who made the sun was before the sun, he was before the morning star, before all the stars, before all the angels. He is the true creator, because “everything was made through him, and apart from him nothing was made” (Jn 1,3). Thus he would be seen by the fleshly eyes that see the sun. He pitched his tent itself in the sun-that is, he showed his flesh in the manifestation of this light. And the marriage bed of that bridegroom was the Virgin’s womb. For in that virginal womb two things were joined, a bridegroom and a bride, the bridegroom being the Word and the bride being flesh. For it is written, “And they shall be two in one flesh” (Gn 2:24 Vg), and the Lord says in the gospel, “Therefore they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mt 19:6). Isaiah also notes very well that these two are themselves one, for he speaks in the person of Christ and says, “He set a wreath upon me like a bridegroom, and like a bride he adorned me with an ornament” (Is 61:10). One person appears to be speaking, and he has made himself a bridegroom and has made himself a bride, because they aren’t two but one flesh, for “the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us,” (Jn 1:14) The Church is joined to that flesh, and Christ becomes the whole, head and body (Eph 1:22).

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team