It is most unreasonable to be offended at the lowliness of Jesus Christ, as if this lowliness were in the same order as was the greatness which he came to display. Let us consider this greatness in his life, in his passion, in his obscurity, in his death, in the choice of his disciples, in their desertion of him, in the secrecy of his resurrection, and the rest, and it will seem so vast as to give no room for offence at a lowliness in another order.
But there are those who can only admire carnal as though there were no mental greatness, and others who only admire mental greatness, as though there were not infinitely greater heights in wisdom.
All bodies, the firmament, the stars, the earth and the kingdoms thereof, are not comparable to the lowest mind, for mind knows all these, and itself; the body nothing.
All bodies together and all minds together, and all they can effect, are not worth the least motion of charity. This is of an order infinitely more exalted.
From all bodies together, we cannot extract one little thought: this is impossible and in another order. From all bodies and minds it is impossible to produce a single motion of true charity, it is impossible, it is in another and a supernatural order.
The Jews, in testing if he were God, have shown that he was man.
The Church has had as much difficulty in showing that Jesus Christ was man, against those who denied it, as in showing that he was God. And the evidences were equally great.
Jesus Christ is a God to whom we draw near without pride, and before whom we abase ourselves without despair.
Jesus Christ for all, Moses for a people.
The Jews were blessed in Abraham. "I will bless those that bless thee." But all nations are blessed in his seed.