‘The Eternal Word from being Innocent becomes as it were Guilty.’
The Son of God has himself become man, has taken the form of a sinner, and loading his own shoulders, has made full compensation to the divine justice for the penalty merited by men. By the sufferings of his life and death, the opposite claims of justice and mercy have been paid.
But, O Lord, it seems like an injustice to sentence an innocent son to die for the purpose of saving a slave who has offended Thee. Yet no, with God this has not passed for injustice, because the Son made the spontaneous offering of himself to the Father. Behold our loving Redeemer, who to save us chose to suffer death and the punishment deserved by us: ‘Surely he has born our infirmities, and carried our sorrows.’ (Isa. 53:4)
But, asks St Bernard, what have cords and chains to do with Thee O God? St Laurence Justinian replies that the bonds which dragged Jesus Christ to death were not those that were fastened on him by the soldiers, but the love he bore towards men.
O most lovable God! Never cease to enkindle more and more in my heart the flames and fiery darts of love. Mary, my Mother; assist a sinner who desires to prove faithful to his God!
(Edited excerpts from St Alphonsus de Liguori, Novena for Christmas in: The Complete Works of St Alphonsus de Liguori. Rev. Eugene Grimm (Ed.)
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