Bishop Eric Menees
Today is the twelfth day of Christmas and the Eve of the
Feast of Epiphany. Over this short
season of Christmas we’ve pondered the meaning of Christmas and God’s awesome
decision to take on human nature, in order to redeem human nature. Below is the
reflection of St. Bernard of while abbot of Clairvaux.
The Kindness of God Made Manifest in Christ's Humanity
The kindness and humanity of God our Savior has
appeared. Thanks be to God, through whom
our consolation overflows in this pilgrimage, in this exile, in this distress.
Before his humanity appeared, his kindness lay
concealed. The latter indeed existed
first, because the mercy of the Lord is from eternity. But how could men know it was so great? It
was promised indeed, but not yet experienced: hence many did not believe in
it. The Lord spoke in fragmentary and
varied fashion through the prophets saying I know the thoughts that I think
towards you, thoughts of peace and not of affliction.
But what reply did man make, man who felt the affliction and
knew nothing of peace? How long will you
keep saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace? Therefore the angels of
peace were weeping bitterly saying, Lord who has believed our report? But now
let men believe at least their own sight, because the testimonies of God are
becoming exceedingly credible. He has set his tabernacle in the sun, so that it
cannot escape even an eye that is troubled.
Behold, peace no longer promised, but conferred; no longer
delayed, but given; no longer predicted, but bestowed. Behold, God the Father has sent down to earth
as it were a bag filled with his mercy; a bag to be rent open in the passion so
that our ransom which it concealed might be poured out; a small bag indeed, but
full. It is indeed a small child who is
given to us, but a child in whom dwells ass the fullness of the Godhead.
After the fullness of time had come, there came too the
fullness of the Godhead. He came in the
flesh, so that at least he might make himself manifest to our earthly minds, so
that when this humanity of his appeared, his kindness might also be
acknowledged. Where the humanity of God
appears his kindness can no longer be hidden. In what way indeed could he have
better commended his kindness than by assuming my mortal flesh? My flesh, that
is, not Adam's, as it was before the fall.
What greater proof could he have given of his mercy than by
taking upon himself that which needed mercy?
Where is there such fullness of loving-kindness as in the fact that the
Word of God became perishable like the grass for our sakes? Lord, what is man
that you make much of him or pay him any heed?
Let man infer from this how much God cares for him. Let him know from this what God thinks of
him, what he feels about him. Man, do
not ask about your own sufferings, but about what he suffered. Learn from what
he was made for you, how much he makes of you, so that his kindness may show
itself to you from his humanity.
The lesser he has made himself in his humanity, the greater
he has shown himself in kindness. The
more he humbles himself on my account, the more powerfully he engages my
love. The kindness and humanity of God
our Savior appeared, says the Apostle.
The humanity of God shows the greatness of his kindness, and he who
added humanity to the Name of God gave great proof of this kindness.
~Bernard of Clairvaux
Thirty-nine
Articles of Religion
VIII. Of the Creeds
The Nicene Creed, and that which is commonly called the
Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be
proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.
The original Article given Royal assent in 1571 and
reaffirmed in 1662, was entitled "Of the Three Creeds; and began as
follows, "The Three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius's Creed, and that
which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed...”
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