[Because of all that God had done for and given to them], the Jewish people had reason to exalt themselves, but because of this very pride they were unwilling to lower themselves to Christ, to their humble creator, to the one who could reduce the swelling, to their doctor-God, to the One who, although he was God, became man so that man would recognize himself as man. Great medicine. If this medicine doesnt cure pride, I dont know what will. He is God, and becomes man. He lays his divinity aside, that is, he in a way gives it up, that is, he hides what he was, he appears as what he had taken on. He himself becomes man, although he is God, and yet man does not recognize that he himself is man, that is, does not recognize that he is mortal, does not recognize that he is weak, does not recognize that he is a sinner, does not recognize that he is illif he did, hed be looking for a doctor!Whats even more dangerous, he thinks he is well! (Augustine, Sermon 77, 11; PL 38, 488)

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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