Day 6 - 20 December
God's Mercy Revealed In His Coming Down From Heaven To Save Us
Thought:
Saint Paul says, "The goodness and kindness of God, our Saviour, has appeared." When the Son of God made Man appear on earth, then was it seen how great is God's goodness towards us. Saint Bernard says that first God's power was manifested in the creation of the world and His wisdom in its conservation, but His merciful goodness was especially manifested later in His taking human nature on Himself, in order to save fallen mankind by His sufferings and death. For what greater proof of His kindness towards us could the Son of God show us than in taking on Himself the punishment we had deserved?
See Him as a weak, newborn infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Unable to move or feed Himself, He has need of Mary to give Him a little milk to sustain His life.
Or see Him again in Pilate's courtyard, tied with fast bonds to a column and there scourged from head to foot. Behold Him on the way to Calvary, falling down from weakness under weight of the cross that He must carry. Finally behold Him nailed to this tree of shame, on which He breathes His last amid pain and anguish. Because Jesus Christ wished that His love for us should win all the love of our hearts for Himself, He would not send an angel to redeem us, but chose to come Himself, to save us by His Passion and death. Had an angel been our redeemer, men would have had to divide their hearts in loving God as their Creator and an angel as their redeemer; but God, who desires men's whole hearts, as He was already their Creator, wished also to be their Redeemer.
Prayer:
O my Dear Redeemer! Where should I be now, if You had not stayed with me so patiently, but had called me from life while I was in the state of sin? Since You have waited for me till now, forgive me quickly, O my Jesus, before death finds me still guilty of so many offences that I have committed against You. I am so sorry for having vilely despised You, my sovereign God, that I could die of grief. But You cannot not abandon a soul that seeks You.
If up to now I have forsaken You, I now seek You and love You. Yes, my God, I love You above all else; I love You more than myself. Help me, Lord, to love You always during the rest of my life. Nothing else do I seek of You. But this I beg of You, this I hope to receive from You.
Mary, my hope, do you pray for me. If you pray for me, I am sure of grace. Amen.
For Day 7 - 21 December click here
