abasement was great in becoming man and in being born an Infant, so were Thy mercy and love shown to be greater towards us, and this with a view to win over our hearts to Thyself.
The Jews, although by so many signs and wonders they had a certain knowledge of the true God, were not, however, satisfied; they wished to behold Him face to face. God found means to comply even with this desire of men; He became Man, to make Himself visible to them. "Knowing," says St. Peter Chrysologus, "that mortals felt an anguish of desire to see Him, God chose this method of making Himself visible to them." And to render Himself still more attractive in our eyes, He would make His first appearance as a little Child, that in this guise He might be the more charming and irresistible; He showed Himself an Infant, that He might make Himself the more acceptable in our eyes, says the same St. Chrysologus. "Yes," adds St. Cyril of Alexandria, "He abased Himself to the humble condition of a little Child in order to make Himself more agreeable to our hearts." "For our advantage was this emptying made." For this indeed was the form most suitable to win our love.
The prophet Ezechiel rightly exclaimed that the time for Thy coming on earth, O Incarnate Word, should be a time of love, the season of lovers: Behold, Thy time was the time of lovers. [16:8] And what object had God in loving us thus ardently, and in giving us so clear proofs of His love, other than that we might love Him? "God loves only in order to be loved," says St. Bernard. God Himself had already said as much: And now, O Israel, what
