Prayer book
ALMIGHTY God, who has given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Breviary
O God, who by the humiliation of thy Son didst raise up a fallen world: grant unto thy faithful people perpetual gladness; that those whom thou hast rescued from the peril of everlasting death may have the fruition of eternal joy. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Reflection
We can't really say that Christ sacrificed His Divinity to become human, because that which is already holy cannot be made holy. Humans sacrifice to God to offer something of His back in order to express true worship. The offering is set apart for God and thus made holy in that separation. In offering himself as the sacrifice for our sins, Our Lord Jesus makes his human nature holy.
You have to see that whatever Christ touches, He sanctifies. He is baptised like us, and in being baptised, He sanctifies the waters of Baptism so that everyone may be allowed to receive the regenerative grace of Baptism. He is anointed ready for His death by St Mary Magdalene, and in such an anointing, He sanctifies the Unction for those who are passing from this world.
In offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins upon the altar of the cross, He not only sanctifies the bread of life in the Holy Eucharist, but also sanctifies human nature ready for its salvation. His death means that all humanity can be saved by dying in Him and thus rising in Him. This is how eternal happiness is communicated to the world. This is how the Word of God spreads the Gospel by His free gift of sanctification.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment