From the minor theological works of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest

 

 

 

 

Christ chose to have poor parents, who nevertheless were perfect in virtue, lest anyone should glory in nobility of birth or family wealth alone. He lived a poor life, to teach us to despise riches. He lived an ordinary life, without the trappings of dignity, to call us back from an inordinate desire for honors. He endured labor, hunger, thirst, and bodily beating, so that those intent on pleasure and extravagance might be recalled to the good by the struggles of this life.

 

Finally, he suffered death, lest anyone neglects truth because of the fear of death. Lest anyone dreads a contemptible death because of the truth, he chose the meanest kind of death, namely death on a cross. It was fitting that the Son of God, who had been made man, should suffer death, that by his example, he might encourage us to virtue. Thus, what Peter says is true:  Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we might follow in his footsteps.

 

For if he had lived as a rich man in the world, as a powerful man or surrounded by great dignity, it would be possible to believe that he had his teaching and miracles by the favor of human power. Therefore, it might be evident as a work of divine power, he chose everything that was base and weak in the world: a poor mother, a needy life, unlearned disciples and messengers, to be rebuked and condemned by the powerful of the world even to death, so that it would manifest the source of his  miracles and teaching was not human power, but divine.

 

Concerning this point we must consider that it was according to the same Providence by which the Son of God, having become man; to suffer weakness. He even chose his disciples, those ministers of salvation, and wished them to be abased in the world. He did not choose learned and noble men, but ignorant and lowly men, poor men, even fishermen. Sending them out to procure the salvation of the human race, he instructed them to preserve poverty, to suffer persecution and even to undergo death for the truth, lest their preaching seem designed for some earthly comfort, and that the salvation of the world be ascribed be ascribed not to earthly wisdom or strength, but only to divine. Therefore, divine power, working miraculous deeds, was not lacking in those who to the world, were of no account.

 

This was necessary for human restoration, that we might learn to put our trust not in ourselves proudly, but in God. This was necessary for the perfection of human righteousness, so that we might subject ourselves to God, from whom we hope to receive all good things that are to come and to recognize those that we have already received.