Today's meditation: The incarnation that has redeemed us

God and all the works of God are the glory of man; and man is the place where all the wisdom and power of God is gathered. Just as the doctor shows his skill in the sick, so too God manifests himself in men. Therefore Paul says: "God has closed all things in the darkness of unbelief to use mercy for all" (cf. Rom 11:32). It does not allude to the spiritual powers, but to the man who stood before God in a state of disobedience and lost immortality. Later, however, he obtained God's mercy for the merits and the medium of his Son. Thus he had the dignity of an adopted son in him.
If man will receive without vain pride the authentic glory that comes from what was created and from the one who created it, that is, from God, the almighty, the architect of all things that exist, and if he will remain in the love of him in respectful submission and in continuous thanksgiving, he will receive even greater glory and progress more and more in this way until he becomes similar to the one who died to save him.
Indeed, the Son of God himself descended "in a flesh similar to that of sin" (Rom 8: 3) to condemn sin, and, after condemning it, completely exclude it from mankind. He called man to resemble himself, made him an imitator of God, started him on the path indicated by the Father so that he could see God and gave him the Father as a gift.
The Word of God made his home among men and became the Son of man, to accustom man to understand God and to accustom God to put his home in man according to the will of the Father. This is why God himself gave us as "sign" of our salvation the one who, born of the Virgin, is Emmanuel: since the same Lord was the one who saved those who in themselves had no chance of salvation.
This is why Paul, indicating the radical weakness of man, says "I know that the good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh" (Rom 7:18), since the good of our salvation does not come from us, but from God And again Paul exclaims: «I am a wretch! Who will free me from this body devoted to death? " (Rom 7:24). Then presents the liberator: The free love of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rom 7:25).
Isaiah himself had predicted this: Strengthen, weak hands and faltering knees, courage, bewildered, comfort yourself, do not fear; behold our God, work righteousness, give reward. He himself will come and be our salvation (cf. Is 35: 4).
This indicates that we do not have salvation from us, but from God, who helps us.

of Saint Irenaeus, bishop