Friday, May 29 : Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

The Word of God has come to dwell in man; he became “Son of man” in order to accustom man to receive God and God to dwell in man, as it has pleased the Father. See now why the sign of our salvation, Emmanuel born of a Virgin, has been given by the Savior himself (Is 7:14). Indeed, it is the Savior himself who saves men since of themselves they cannot save themselves. (…) The prophet Isaiah has said: “Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak! Take courage, frightened hearts; be strong, fear not! Here is your God who comes with vindication; he himself comes, he comes to save us,” (Is 35:3-4). For it is only by God’s help, and not of ourselves, that we can stand up to our salvation. And here is another text where Isaiah predicted that the one who saves us is neither simply a man nor an incorporeal being: “It was not a messenger or an angel but the Lord himself who saved his people. Because of his love and pity he forgave them; he redeemed them himself,” (Is 63:9). Yet this Savior is also truly man, truly visible: “City of Zion, behold: your eyes shall see our Savior” (…) And another prophet has said: “He will again have compassion on us and cast into the depths of the sea all our sins,” (Mi 7:19) (…) From the land of Judah, from Bethlehem (Mi 5:1) will come the Son of God, he who is also God, to pour out his praise on all the earth (…) Thus God has become man indeed and the Lord himself has saved us by giving us the sign of the Virgin.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team