Page:IncarnationofJesus.djvu/29

 this much has Jesus Christ done for you, most vile worm; and you, with the blackest ingratitude, have tried oftentimes to take away His life; and your sins---would have done so, were Jesus liable to die any more.

How much viler are you in the sight of God than is a worm in your own sight! What difference would it make to God had you remained dead and forever reprobate in your sins, as you well deserved? Nevertheless, this God had such a love for you that, to release you from eternal death, He first became a worm like you; and then, to save you, would lavish upon you His heart's blood, even to the last drop, and endure the death which you had justly deserved.

Yes, all this is of faith: And the Word was made flesh. [John 1:14] He hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own blood. [Apoc. 1:5] The Holy Church declares herself to be filled, with terror at the idea of the work of redemption: I considered Thy work, and was afraid. And this the prophet said of old: O Lord, I have heard Thy hearing, and was afraid ... Thou wentest forth for the salvation of Thy people; for salvation with Thy Christ. [Hab. 3:2, 13] Hence St. Thomas terms the mystery of the Incarnation the miracle of miracles; a miracle above all comprehension, in which God showed how powerful was His love towards men, which of God made Him Man, of Creator a creature. The Creator, says St. Peter Damian, springs from the creature, of Lord it made Him servant, of impassible subject to sufferings and to death: He hath showed might in His arm. [Luke 1:51] St. Peter of Alcantara,