Jesus Comes to Strengthen & Renew Creation

Dec. 4 is the feast of St. John Damascene, a Syrian who lived from around 676 until 749. In his writings, this Doctor of the Church explains that a fallen humanity needed God’s tremendous gift of Himself:

It was necessary for nature to be strengthened and renewed, and for the path of virtue to be indicated and effectively taught, the path that leads away from corruption and towards eternal life…. we see in the Son of God, who descends to renew nature, the sea of love that God has for man.

John Damascene explains further:

He Himself, the Creator and the Lord, fought for his Creation, transmitting to it His teaching by example…. And so the Son of God, while still remaining in the form of God, lowered the skies and descended… to His servants… achieving the newest thing of all, the only thing really new under the sun, through which He manifested the infinite power of God.

Pope Benedict talked about him in May 2009.

Pope Benedict’s audiences on holy men and women are a treasure trove for getting to know so many saints better. There’s one for today!