Sermons 22

That the Benedictine monks of the Congregation of Saint Maur, in the appendix to the works of Saint Ambrose, on sermon 9 (which is the second on the Epiphany of the Lord in the Venetian edition of the year 1751, page 499), observed that this homily ought to be referred to some other writer, perhaps Saint Maximus—this we now judge can be asserted by us with sufficient safety. For whoever compares this with the preceding one will plainly find that in both the same subject is treated by the same author. This is confirmed by a certain Turin codex belonging to Maximus, in which the preceding one is third among the homilies on the Epiphany; this one is fourth. And it is attributed to Maximus himself in codex 99 of Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and it is number 16.

Nor indeed, because in many codices it does not bear the name of Maximus, should it therefore be doubted whether it ought to be ascribed to him. For that this one likewise (which is agreed to be sister to the preceding) had Maximus as its author, it will be enough if it is clear that by the authority of nearly all writers and codices that preceding homily was adjudged to the same Maximus. Your holiness remembers, brethren, our earlier preaching, in which we described how the blessed apostles, at the sight of one miracle—that is, the water turned into wine by the Savior—straightway believed in Him. For thus the evangelist says of the Lord: And He manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him (John 2).

Which deed was written not only that the glory of the faith of those under whom it was done might be shown, but also for our sake, who by the same example of devotion are stirred to the glory of belief. For what Christ wrought, He wrought not only for those whom He then had present, but also for us who were to follow afterward, so that although our elders preceded us in time, they might nonetheless not go before us in the glory of the signs. For the same power that was displayed in the presence of the deeds in the wonders, that same power has been preserved for us in the treasure of the letters, so that the page might present to us what history enacted for them; nay rather, whatever is brought before us is enacted in us;

whatever is instilled into us, so that the power of the Lord might be set forth as in the mirror of the Scriptures—that power which they beheld with carnal eyes, we might see with spiritual light. And they believed in Him, and He manifested His glory to His disciples (ibid.). How well does the devotion of the little servants follow upon the power of the Lord, and what the master teaches by works, the disciples inscribe in their hearts. Behold, to him is manifested the power of the One who works, and the manifest faith of the believers is proclaimed. Truly to be proclaimed is the faith of the apostles, who at the sight of one sign believed in the omnipotence of the Savior.

While the apostles marvel at water truly turned into wine, they themselves were likewise converted from all the dregs of sins, and made after the likeness of the miracle, translated from the base superstition of the Gentiles into the precious devotion of believers; and as water turned into wine is seasoned with flavor, redness, and color, so what was insipid in them took on the flavor of knowledge; what was pale took on the color of grace; what was cold grew warm with the ardor of immortality. Therefore the faith of the apostles is to be magnified, which was for this reason described in the gospel word, that it might be both to their praise and profit us as an example. But what is worse, their praise remains theirs, yet the examples do not move us. For by how much we are later in time, by so much are we also inferior in merit.

For they, at the sight of one sign, at once believed in the Lord; we, having received still so many wondrous benefits, doubt. We doubt, I say, because we love things present, while we do not believe things to come: we love riches in the world, while we delay to receive them from Christ. We are immoderately puffed up with anger, while we do not fear the judgment of retribution. But whoever knows it to be written (Matthew 7): With what judgment you have judged, with the same shall it be judged concerning you—he is without doubt gentle, moderate, and mild, and constrains more by goodness than compels by severity: a friend of indulgence, familiar with pardon; so that, while he frequently bestows it, he may always receive it from the Lord.

For it belongs to a prudent ruler so to conduct earthly honors that he may acquire the honor of heavenly dignity. And if at times bodily weakness dulls in us the vigor of speaking, nevertheless by the zeal of your devotion we are made stronger. For the more zealously you listen, the more gladly we too preach; and the power of speaking is added to us, when you lend the hearing of understanding. Who would not strive to cast the seed of the heavenly word there where the fruitful earth of a pure heart receives it? Who, I say, would not wish to place the word of the Savior there where no worldly care chokes it, but the power of spiritual disciplines nourishes it?

Therefore, brethren, since on the holy Epiphany we exulted, seeing the miracles of the Savior, we ought to do what the disciples of that time then did. But as for what I said, that we have now seen what was of old accomplished—we do see it plainly, and we see it daily. For the miracles of Christ are such that they do not pass away through iniquity, but grow strong through grace; they are not buried in oblivion, but are renewed as by mighty deeds. For with the power of God nothing is abolished, nothing is past, but by reason of His greatness all things are present to Him; all time to Him is today. Whence the holy prophet also says: A thousand years before Thine eyes are as one day (Psalm 89).

But if all the time of the age is one day to the Lord, then on the same day on which the Savior wrought wonders for the fathers, He has wrought them also for us. We too, therefore, like our elders, have seen the wonders of the Lord, and we have received them with equal amazement as they did. We too, like them, have tasted from those very water-jars, since indeed they drank a cup of wine from them, but we have taken the chalice of salvation. We ought therefore, at the sight of the sign of the Lord, to do what those who went before us did. For if the same grace of the Divinity has shone forth in us, the same devotion of faith ought also to be in us. For the evangelist says of the Lord, this miracle being wrought: And He manifested His glory, and the disciples believed in Him (John 2).

We ought therefore to believe, just as the apostles then believed. But another also says: We too are Christians, and we believe in God the Savior. But it is needful to believe by work, not by speech; not with the tongue, but with the heart: lest it be said also to us: This people honors me with the lips, but their heart is far from me (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8; Mark 7:6).