A Winter's Tale

Etiamsi ego taceam, fratres, tempus nos admonet quod Domini Christi natalis in proximo est. Nam praedicationem meam praevenit dierum extrema conclusio. Ipsis enim angustiis suis mundus loquitur imminere aliquid, quo in melius reparetur, et expectatione festina desiderat, ut tenebras suas splendioris solis candor illuminet. Dum enim cursum suum brevitate horarum concludi meruit, spe quadam annum suum indicat reformari. Haec igitur expectatio creaturae, etiam nos expectare persuadet, ut peccatorum nostrorum tenebras novus sol Christus ortus illuminet, et longam in nobis caliginem delictorum justitiae sol nativitatis suae vigore discutiat: nec patiatur cursum vitae nostrae tenebris vitae concludi, sed virtutis suae gratia dilatari. Igitur quia natalem Domini etiam mundo indicante cognoscimus, faciamus et nos, quod mundus facere consuevit: hoc est, sicut in illa die mundus spatia suae lucis extendit, ita et nostram justitiam protendamus: et sicut diei illius claritas pauperibus et divitibus communis est, ita et nostra liberalitas peregrinas et indigentibus sit communis: et sicut tunc mundus noctium suarum recidit caliginem, ita et nos avaritiae nostrae tenebras amputemus; atque ad instar hiberni temporis, sicut in segetibus solis vapore resoluto gelu nutriuntur semina, ita et in pectoribus nostris resoluta duritie justitiae semen tepefactum Salvatoris radio coalescat. Sanctus Maximus Taurinensis, Homilia IV, Ante Natale Domini Source: Migne PL 57.233a-c

Even if I were to be silent, brothers, the time admonishes us that the nativity of our Lord Christ is near. The utter end of days anticipates my preaching. And in its sparsity the world speaks that something is imminent, by which it shall restored to what is better, and with an eager expectation it desires it, that the brightness of the sun might illuminate its darkness with its splendour. For while the brief course of the year has come to its end, a certain hope hints at its refashioning. Therefore let us also be persuaded to hope with this expectation of created things, that the rising of the new sun of Christ will illuminate the darkness of our sins and the birth of the sun of righteousness dissipate with its power the lengthy darkness of the wickedness in us, that it suffer not the course of our life to end in darkness but enlarge it with the power of His grace. Therefore, because we know that the world points to the birthday of the Lord, let us act as the world is accustomed to act, that is, that in that day in which the world extends its span with light, so even we give greater scope to our righteousness, and as the light of that day is common to the poor and to the rich, so our generosity is common to the vagrant and to the needy, and as the world reduces the darkness of its nights, so we cut off the darkness of our avarice, and as in the season of winter the vapour of the sun melts the snow for the nourishment of the seeds of crops, so even in our heart the rays of the Saviour warm from its hardness the tepid seed of righteousness. Saint Maximus of Turin, from Homily 4, On The Nativity Of The Lord