The Human Remedy

The son of God assumed human nature, and in it he endured all that belongs to the human condition. This is the remedy for mankind, and a power beyond our imagining. Could any pride be cured, if the humility of God's son does not cure it? Could any greed be cured, if the poverty of God's son does not cure it? Or any anger, if the patience of God's son does not cure it? Or any coldness, if the love of God's son does not cure it? Lastly, what fearfulness can be cured, if it is not cured by the resurrection of the body of Christ the Lord?

Let mankind raise it's hopes, and recognize it's own nature: let it observe how high a place it has in the works of God. Do not despise yourselves, you man: the son of God is assumed manhood. Do not despise yourselves, you women: God's son was born of a woman. But do not set your hearts on the satisfactions of the body, for in the son of God we are neither male or female. Do not set your heart on the temporal rewards: if it were good to do so, that human nature which God's son assumed would have thus set it's heart. Do not fear insults, crosses and death: for if they did harm man, the humanity which God's son assumed would not have endured them.

St. Augustine of Hippo. On the Christian Struggle