See what God has done for you, Church Fathers Day: 364

See what God has done for you

Nothing in us deserved what God has done for us, says St. Hilary of Poitiers. The Son of God, through whom all things were made, actually took on human flesh through Mary and became one of us.

The Virgin, the birth, the Body, then the Cross, the death, the visit to the lower world—these things are our salvation. For the sake of mankind the Son of God was born of the Virgin and of the Holy Spirit. In this process he served him­self; by his own power—the power of God—which overshadowed her he sowed the beginning of his Body, and entered on the first stage of his life in the flesh. He did it so that by his Incarnation he might take to himself from the Virgin the fleshly nature, and that through this commingling there might come into being a hallowed Body of all humanity.

Thus the invisible Image of God did not scorn the shame that marks the be­ginnings of human life. He passed through every stage; through conception, birth, wailing, cradle, and each successive humiliation.

What worthy return can we make for so great a condescension? The One On­ly-begotten God, ineffably born of God, entered the Virgin’s womb and grew and took the frame of poor humanity. He who upholds the universe, within whom and through whom are all things, was brought forth by common childbirth, He at whose voice archangels and angels tremble, and heaven and earth and all the elements of this world are melted, was heard in childish wailing. The Invisible and Incomprehen­sible, whom sight and feeling and touch cannot measure, was wrapped in a cradle.

The less such condescension befits the majesty of God, the more we must admit we owe for the benefit it gave us. We were raised because he was lowered; shame to him was glory to us. He, being God, made flesh his home, and we in return are lifted anew from the flesh to God.

–St. Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity, 2.24-25

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I remember to give honor to Mary, through whose flesh the Son of God became truly human?

CLOSING PRAYER

Mother of God, you alone are chaste and blessed. I run to you for mercy: do not disregard my prayers in my time of need, but save me from all danger. 

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