Advent Meditation~By St. Alphonsus de Liguori (December 1)

[Dawn Marie]

THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH

THE INCARNATION

Discourse by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

 

Discourse 2

 

And here St Bernard, in his contemplations on this subject, imagines a struggle to ensue between the justice and the mercy of God.  Justice says: "I no longer exist if Adam be not punished; if Adam die not."

Mercy, on the other hand, says: "I am lost if man be not pardoned; I perish if he does not obtain forgiveness."  In this contest the Lord decides, that in order to deliver man, who was guilty of death, some innocent one must die: Let one die who is no debtor to death."

On earth there was not one innocent.  "Since, therefore, says the Eternal Father, "amongst men there is none who can satisfy My justice, let him come forward who will go to redeem man."  The angels, the cherubim, the seraphim, all are silent, not one replies; one Voice alone is heard, that of the Eternal Word, who says, "Lo, here am I; send Me."  "Father", says the only-begotten Son, "Thy majesty, being infinite, and having been injured by man, cannot be fittingly satisfied by an angel, who is purely a creature; and though Thou mightest accept of the satisfaction of an angel, reflect that, in spite of so great benefits bestowed on man, in spite of so many promises and threats, we have not yet been able to gain his love, because He is not yet aware of the love we bear him.  If we would oblige him without fail to love us, what better occasion can we find than that, in order to redeem him, I, Thy Son, should go upon earth, should there assume human flesh, and pay by My death the penalty due by him. 

In this manner Thy justice is fully satisfied, and at the same time man is thoroughly convinced of Our love!"  "But think," answered the Heavenly Father---- "think O My Son, that in taking upon Thyself the burden of mans' satisfaction, Thou wilt have to lead a life full of sufferings!"  "No matter," replied the Son:  "Lo, here am I, send Me."  "Think that Thou wilt have to be born in a cave, the shelter of the beasts of the field; thence Thou must flee into Egypt whilst still an infant, to escape the hands of those very men who, even from Thy tenderest infancy, will seek to take away Thy life."  "It matters not:  "Lo, here am I, send Me."  "Think that, on Thy return to Palestine, Thou shalt there lead a life most arduous, most despicable, passing Thy days as a simple boy in a carpenter's shop."  "It matters not:  "Lo, here I am, send Me." 

Think that when Thou goest forth to preach and to manifest Thyself, Thou will have indeed a few, but very few, to follow Thee; the greater part will despise Thee and call Thee impostor, magician, fool, Samaritan; and, finally, they will persecute Thee to such a pass that they will make Thee die shamefully on a gibbet by dint of torments."  "No matter:  "Lo, here am I, send Me."

 

The decree then being passed that the Divine Son should be made man, and so become the Redeemer of men, the Archangel Gabriel speeds on his way to Mary.  Mary accepts Him for Her Son:  "And the Word was made flesh."  And thus behold Jesus in the womb of Mary; having now made His entry into the world in all humility and obedience, He says:  "Since, O My Father, men cannot make atonement to Thy offended justice by their works and sacrifices, behold Me, Thy Son, now clothed in mortal flesh, behold Me ready to give Thee in their stead satisfaction with My sufferings and with My death!" 

Wherefore when He cometh into the world He saith:  "Sacrifice and oblation Thou wouldst not; but a  body Thou hast fitted to Me. . . .  Then said I, Behold, I come. . . .  It is written of Me that I should do Thy will."