CHAPTER 2 _On the third day_, &c. _The third day_, that is, from Christ's departure for Galilee, and the calling of Philip. For this was the last date mentioned by S. John. The following is the sequence of these days in the life of Christ. He was baptized by John in the thirty-first year of his age,... [ Continue Reading ]
_His Mother saith,_ &c. His mother modestly holds her peace, and rightly yields to her Son, as being the Son of God. Although the Son seems to deny His Mother, the Mother knows His filial piety. Therefore with all confidence she bids the servants what to do. S. Gaudentius comments in these words, "T... [ Continue Reading ]
_There were set_, &c. Christ then made use of these _water-pots_ that it might be the more clearly evident that they had no wine in them; and so the turning the water into wine in such vessels might be the more conspicuous. _Purification_ : by which the Jews according to their traditions were accus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus saith,_ &c. S. Chrysostom asks, "But why did He not Himself fill the waterpots with water, and then turn it into wine?" He gives the right answer, saying, in order that He might have them as witnesses to the miracle who had drawn the water, lest any fraud or trickery should be supposed. _To... [ Continue Reading ]
A _nd Jesus saith_, &c. _Draw out_ of the great water pots, and pour into smaller vessels, and carry it to the master of the feast, and let him judge how good the wine is. As Christ said this, He in one moment by His Almighty power changed the whole of the water in the six waterpots into wine. Liste... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the governor of the feast_, &c. _Tasted_ : he did not give credit entirely to the smell and ruddy colour, but he tasted, and found that it was the very best and most excellent wine. For tasting was the surest way of judging. _And when men are inebriated_ (Vulg.), _well drunk_ (Eng. Vers.), i.... [ Continue Reading ]
_This beginning_, &c.; _glory, i.e._, His Omnipotence and Divinity _. And believed_, _i.e._, their faith grew. _Beginning._ From hence the Fathers gather _passim_ that this miracle was absolutely the first which Christ publicly wrought. This is the refutation of the book on the "Infancy of the Savi... [ Continue Reading ]
_After this Jesus went down_, &c. After the marriage Jesus returned with His Mother and friends to their house at Nazareth. Nazareth was situated upon higher ground, so that He would descend from it to Capharnaum, which was on ground sloping down to the Sea of Galilee. The reason why He went was bec... [ Continue Reading ]
_His disciples remembered,_ &c. This zeal of Christ was righteous indignation, says Euthymius, or rather ardour to do away with what was repugnant to God's honour, so that He boldly exposed Himself, His life and His good name, to defend the honour of God, whom He loved above all things. For Christ d... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Jews therefore answered_, &c. Meaning, what miracle dost Thou show, that Thou takest upon Thyself, contrary to the custom, to cast the sellers out of the Temple, as having received authority from God: for from man, that is, from pontiff or governor, we know thou hast none? For Christ had intima... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus answered_, &c. Appositely does He prove His authority over the Temple by His power of rebuilding the Temple. _This Temple_, viz., His body, which Christ pointed out by moving His hand to His breast. Observe: the Body of Christ is called a temple because in It dwelt the fulness of the Deity, n... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Jews then said_, &c. There were three buildings of the Temple of Jerusalem. The first was by Solomon, and occupied seven years. The second was the rebuilding after its destruction by the Babylonians, by Zorobabel and his companions, under Cyrus, King of Persia. This rebuilding occupied fifteen... [ Continue Reading ]
But _He spake,_ &c. S. Chrysostom asks, "Why He did not explain to them, being in doubt, that He called His flesh the Temple?" and answers that "since they had no belief in Him, even if He had explained the Jews would have derided Him, and treated Him still worse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When therefore He was risen_, &c. _They believed the Scripture_, which foretold that Christ would rise from the dead. This, which they did not previously understand, they understood when they saw it actually fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ. Such a Scripture is that verse of the Psalms (xvi.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Jesus did not,_ &c. He did not trust, _i.e._, He did not confide. For although He knew that they believed in Him, yet He also knew that they were fickle, and would easily fall back from this faith, and be perverted by His numerous enemies, the Scribes and Pharisees. For the authority and power... [ Continue Reading ]
_For He had no need_, &c. For He was searching the heart of each, whether it were constant, or fickle and inconstant. Wherefore, as S. Chrysostom says, "He did not regard outward words who enters into the mind itself, who penetrates human thoughts, who knew how soon their fervour would grow cold. Je... [ Continue Reading ]