Therein lies the essence of the Mystery of Redemption and the apex of all authentic human and religious sentiment and action.
Greatness is measured by the greatness of one's gift. He who gives the most is the greatest!
And the greatest gift is to give oneself.
And the greater the person giving himself the greater the gift.
God being the Greatest Giver and the Greatest Gift, when He gives Himself in the Crib and on the Cross that is the greatest action in history and the model and source of everything else before or after, and in eternity!
"The one who knows best how to suffer will have the greatest peace! That one is victor over himself and lord of the world, a friend of Christ and heir of heaven!" --Imitation of Christ III,3,3 (Plinthos translation)
Qui melius scit pati, majorem tenebit pacem. Iste est victor sui et dominus mundi, amicus Christi et haeres coeli.
Fine thoughts the week before mother's day! Every mother gives the greatest gift in the natural world: a man. And every man has received himself from that greatest natural giver, his mother (and his father). The maternal aspect not excepting Christ. he being exceptional in his divine Paternity which is solely heavenly.