AN ARMY OF ANTS
A child loved all animals and had a special affection for the tiny ants.
He used to spend much time observing the movement and lifestyle of the ants. One
day he saw an army of ants marching across a road and was worried that they may
get crushed to death by the pedestrians and vehicles. He tried to save the poor
ants by shouting at the top of his voice, but failed to change the direction of
their migration. He knew that the ants could not understand his words.
He thought deeply and said to his father, “If
there was a way to be born as an ant, I could talk to these poor creatures in
their own language and convince them of the impending danger of crossing the road
and thus save them.” The father agreed with him and explained to him the
infinite love of God towards man which compelled Him to take birth as a baby, live
with us, die for us and thus save us from sin and Satan.
The child was correct in his
view that the only way to communicate with the ants was to be born as an ant,
live with them and love them. A saviour should identify with the species to be
saved. Yes, God became man to communicate with us and save us. St. Paul
teaches, “He always had the nature of
God, but He did not think that by force He should try to become equal with God.
Instead of this, of His own free will He gave up all He had, and took the
nature of a servant. He became like man and appeared in human likeness. He was
humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death - His death on the
cross” {Philippians: 2: 6-8}. The God of the entire universe left His heavenly
abode and glory and was conceived miraculously in Mary’s womb, developed like
every human being and was born as a crying infant in the mucky manger of
Bethlehem.
There were many different ways that God could
have used to save us. In His infinite wisdom, God chose to save us through his birth,
life, preaching, suffering, death, and resurrection. God accomplished salvation
of man by His incarnation. St. John summarizes this mystery in these words: “The Word became a human being and, full of
grace and truth, lived among us” (John 1:14).
Holy Virgin Mary was given the singular and sublime grace of being the
"woman" from whom Christ took on his human nature and his human body for
the redemption of humanity.
He became truly man while remaining truly
God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man” {Catechism of the Catholic Church,
CCC - 464}.
…………………………………………………………………..
© By: Prof.
Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India
( Former Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts
Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu,
Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo.
S. John, St. Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil
John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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