Almighty ever-living God, Who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed His lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
an example of humility for the human race to follow – Jesus Christ “though He was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). It doesn't get any humbler than this. Our Lord became man to save us and to give us an example of humility to follow as He lay down His life for us.
caused our Savior to take flesh – What caused the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity to take flesh? Both humility and love. He loves us so much that He willed to humble Himself and become one of us in order to save us.
submit to the Cross – Jesus could have saved us with one drop of His precious Blood, but He chose to go to the Cross, to shed every drop to show us exactly how much He loves us.
we may heed His lesson of patient suffering – Suffering does and will always come to all of us. Through it, God teaches us, purifies us, tests us, strengthens us, and prepares us for glory in Heaven. How well do we respond to the suffering God allows for us? Are we patient? Or do we complain? Do we seek to avoid it? Or do we embrace it with love and unite it to the suffering of Christ so that it can bear great fruit in our lives and the lives of others?
merit a share in His Resurrection – We never earn our way to Heaven, yet we must cooperate with God's grace and with His plan for our lives. This is how we merit, through our obedience, our repentance, and our love. God created us without us, but He will not save us without us.
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