Advent Homilies

“Though one never really tires of advent devotionals, it is rare to find one that ventures beyond the expected passages from Matthew and Luke and the key Messianic prophesies from the Old Testament. Advent Homilies invites and challenges its readers to accompany Augustine as he journeys through the Scriptures in search of the eternal Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, teaching us as he goes to love and adore him.”

– louis markos

Louis Markos, Professor in English and scholar in Residence at Houston Christian University

“The sermons of Augustine remain largely unknown and underappreciated among today’s Christian pastors, laypersons, and theological educators, much to our detriment. This collection of Advent sermons is a good step towards rectifying this. Of course, Augustine would remind us that we read (or listen) not to admire the preacher but to better praise the one preached. Nevertheless, it helps to have a sure hand to guide us, and Augustine – as pastor, as rhetorician, as seeker – was and is certainly that.”

– ian clausen

Editor-in-Chief of Augustinian Studies, Villanova University

“Bringing together Augustine’s sermons on the incarnation of God’s Son is a good idea. Those who read superficially will see the same motifs passing by, but those who read attentively will notice how the church father keeps shedding new light on the powerful mystery of the incarnation. We also taste his wonder and adoration of God’s Son Who exists as a human being. It is precisely by illuminating the paradoxes of God and man in one person that the mystery comes out emphatically. What also struck me is that the birth of God’s Son is our rebirth. Salvation history and the order of salvation are immediately connected in this way. Take and read!”

– WILLEM VAN VLASTUIN

Chair Theology and Spirituality of Reformed Protestantism, Dean Hersteld Hervormd Seminarium

“There are few things more nourishing to the soul than contemplating Scripture with St. Augustine. In this collection of Augustine’s Advent homilies the editors have set out a bountiful feast that lets Augustine speak.

With a helpful introduction that bridges Augustine’s day and our own, Hamilton and Laverty clear away what might otherwise distract from Augustine’s beautifully crafted homilies. The artistry with which Augustine displays the glories of the incarnation and the wonders of Christmas will challenge the contemporary reader with the depths of thought and heights of eloquence for which Augustine is rightly cherished.

Through this collection of homilies the wonder of Christ will nourish our souls this Advent season. Augustine’s words the beauty of the Word will leave our souls longing for more.” 

– TODD BATES

President and Professor of Humanities, Christ College

“This collection is intended for pastors, theologians, and lay Christians who seek to deepen their understanding and experience of the Advent season through the timeless wisdom of Augustine. By engaging with these homilies, readers will find renewed inspiration for worship and personal devotion during this significant time in the church calendar.”

– STEVE ABNEY

Elder, Watermark Community Church, Fort Worth

“For those eager to embrace the wondrous tapestry and wealth of early Christian thought during the Advent season, Augustine’s Advent Homilies offer a rich introduction. These meditations on the coming of Christ beckon the reader down illuminated paths leading to boundless treasure and rediscovered joy. Hamilton and Laverty have presented readers with a most magnificent gift!.”

– ROBERT L. BOSS

Editor of Jonathan Edwards Commentaries on the New Testament

“The Advent sermons collected here represent some of the most exquisite examples of Augustine’s preaching. We find Augustine speaking in a beautiful combination of prose and poetry, while not lacking theological depth. It is obvious to see in these translations why these sermons have endured through the generations.” 

– CHARLES G. KIM

Professor of Theology and Classical Langauges, Saint Louis University

“This collection of sermons will help Christians contemplate more deeply the mysteries of Advent and Christmas. Augustine’s rhetorical genius is on full display, but his theological insights are what make this volume spiritually enriching as a devotional. Common Christmas themes like the Virgin Mary and the wise men appear, but so do less familiar but deeply profound ones like Christ as the Eternal Day, the relation of his two natures to time and eternity, or the necessity of spiritual virginity. The texts in this collection feel like sermonic expositions of parts of Confessions, such that both my mind and my heart are filled with the wonder of our Incarnate Lord.’

– IAN HUGH CLARY

Associate Professor of Historical Theology, Colorado Christian University

“As a seasoned pastor I have found Christmas to be increasingly difficult to preach. Although the incarnation is a bottomless ocean of beauty, I struggle to get out of the shallows. This amazing volume adds inspiration to my Christmas preaching, and ushers my soul into the depths. I can’t wait for Christmas.”

– CODY BUSBY

Senior Pastor, South Shore Baptist Church, Hingham, MA