1. Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Gali-
Tie SUNDAY SERMONS OF ST. BONAVENTURE
SERMON 8: SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
1. Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him. John 2:1.
[Protheme] Without the light of divine wisdom we are unable to say anything edifying by ourselves since, no one, as the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 12:3, is able to say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit; nor are we able to understand anything in a useful manner for, as Job
32:8 says: The inspiration of the Almighty grants understanding; nor are we able to act meritoriously because, as the Truth states in John 15:5: You can do nothing without me, therefore at the beginning of our sermon let us raise our prayers to the Father of lights'! and giver of wisdom, so that he himself would moisten my dry words with the dew of grace and, with the power of the Holy Spirit, direct the tongue that speaks and the ear that hears. We might then be able to speak edifyingly, understand advantageously, and act meritoriously to the praise, etc.
[Sermon] 2. Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and he manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him. The knowledge of an effect leads to the knowledge of the cause,' thus John the Evangelist with these proposed words, which are like the conclusion
141 See James 1:17.
2 See Book II, c. 16 of Aristotle, Analytica posteriora in WAE, vol.
1, 98b.
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and epilogue of the entire Gospel today, suggests that the Lord Jesus Christ manifested at the wedding his preeminent power, by the miraculous effect beyond natural power in the sudden transformation of water into wine, without any prior preparation, when it says: Jesus did this, the first of his signs etc. The apparent beginning of Christ's miracles is noted when it says: Jesus did this, the first of his signs; second, the evident manifestation of his power through the sign, when it adds: he manifested his glory; third, his guiding illumination for the disciples, when it includes: and his disciples believed in him, that is, because of the infusion of interior, supernatural grace and the exterior guidance of the miracle.
3. First, the apparent beginning of Christ's miracles is noted, when it says: Jesus did this, the first of his signs.
This sign of the sudden transformation of water into wine was not the first sign of Christ as to occurrence, but only as to appearance. For this reason, if we wish to proceed in a good and ordered manner, we can truthfully say that on that same day, although at different times, he fashioned a threefold sign through which he manifested the excellence of his threefold power. He fashioned, I say, on the same day of Epiphany, first, a visible sign in the unusual appearance of a shining star; second, a marvelous sign in the sudden transformation of obedient nature; third, an amiable sign in the gratuitous sanctification of the regenerating water. And this is what holy mother Church sings today: "We celebrate a holy day embellished with three miracles" etc. And this sign of an appearing star did not begin on that day, nevertheless, on the day of Epiphany it completed the purpose for which it was instituted, namely, to manifest the true light. It is not incongruous to say that it happened on this day and celebrate the memory of it, since everything is commended as worthy and laudable according to its end.
THe SUNDAY SERMONS OF ST. BONAVENTURE
A. He fashioned first, therefore, a visible sign in the unusual appearance of a shining star. Whence Isaiah 11:12 says: The Lord will raise a sign among the nations, and assemble the refugees of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The Lord will raise up the sign of the shining star among the nations, that is, among the peoples, in order to manifest to them through this that he is the true light" that illuminates every mind. For this reason the star of new clarity, which appeared to the Magi, declared the true light born to the world. And assemble the fugitives of Israel, which is to say, direct those suited onto the good road, since Israel is interpreted to mean the direction of the Lord.'"* And he will gather together the dispersed of Judah to confess the name of the Lord. Judah, in fact, is interpreted as confession. From the four corners of the earth, that is, from the inordinate and worldly affections according to which the peoples walked in the vanity of their senses;\** namely, from the tumor of vanity and pride to the trepidation of humility and reverence, from the deformity of carnality and impurity to the beauty of sanctity and modesty; from longing for earthy things and avarice to love of poverty and need, and from the furor of impiety and jealousy to the sweetness of charity and benevolence.
5. He fashioned, in fact, a marvelous sign in the sudden transformation of obedient nature. Sirach 36:6 is able to say something about this: Renew your signs, and work miracles, glorify your hand and your right arm. Renew your signs and work miracles, you, namely, who miracu143 See John 1:9.
44 See CCSL lxxii, 139: "Israel means a man who sees God."
™® See CCSL Ixxii, 157: "Judah means confessing or the one who praises."
46 See Eph 4:17: "... henceforth you should not walk as the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind."
SuNpDAYs IN CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY
lously turned back the flowing Jordan, you, who turn the water of literal understanding that rarely if ever seeks the commands of God into the wine of spiritual understanding, so the Creator may be obeyed according to the intentions of the one who commands; glorify your hand and your right arm, by turning preeminent power to the sudden transformation of obedient nature, so those who dwell to the ends of the earth might fear your signs' and know that you alone are the most high over all the earth,
and there is nothing that can resist your will.
6. He made, in fact, an amiable sign in the gratuitous sanctification of the regenerating water. That is why
Psalm 85:17 says: Make me a sign for the better that those who hate me may see and be confounded. Make for me a sign of baptismal consecration for the sake of salvation, so those who hate me may see, namely the demons, because of rectitude and the severity of justice; and be confounded, by ejection from the pure tabernacle of paradise; because you, O Lord, have rescued me, by liberating me from the punishment of eternal death with the bloody signature of the cross in baptism; and you have consoled me by the infusion of sweet grace. Ezekiel 9:4 says this expressly and literally: Sign the Thau upon the foreheads of those weeping and mourning out of compassion for the death of Christ. And it follows, that the murderers passed through the city and struck everyone without the Thau sign, that is, the sign of the cross on their foreheads. The Lord imprints this amiable sign spiritually on the soul in baptism for the sake of salvation.
7. It follows: he manifested his glory, where the evident manifestation of his power through the sign is not147 See Ps 64:9.
148 See Ps 96:9: "You are the most high Lord over all the earth...."
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ed. Indeed through this sign and others which Christ performed, he manifested the threefold excellence of his power. Now first, through the original sign of water, he manifested the sublimity of creative power. Second, through the sign of the shining star, he manifested the clarity of governing wisdom. Third, through the sign of the regenerating water he manifested the kindness of redeeming clemency. Consequently by reason of the first he ought to be humbly feared and admired, by reason of the second reverently honored, but by reason of the third, ardently loved.
8. First, through the original sign of changing the water he manifested the sublimity of creative power. And this was stated in the previously mentioned theme: Jesus did this, the first of his signs, and manifested his glory. God indeed manifested his miraculous works to the simple and the unlettered, so those who were unable to consider the clarity of the divine light through the light of creation might consider the immensity of his power through the appearance of miracles. And this is what the Lord says in John 9:3 concerning the blind man: Neither this one nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God might be manifested in him. The works of God are said to be those God alone reserves to himself and such works are miraculous, which are beyond nature. These are the works manifested in the blind man, that is, to the unlettered and simple so those who are not able to rise by contemplation may rise by admiration.
9. Second, through the sign of the shining star, he manifested the clarity of governing wisdom. Sirach 6:28 speaks of this: Search for wisdom and she will be manifested to you, and when you hold her, do not let her go.
This wisdom of Christ is what the Magi, the first in faith from among the gentile peoples, sought through the sign
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of the shining star, until it was manifested to them. And so through the infusion of supernatural grace and the guidance of creation, Christ, who is the light of wisdom, is manifested. And Romans 1:19 speaks of this: What is known of God was manifested to them, for God has manifested it to them. The invisible things of God are perceived by the intellect from the created world, through those things, which have been created.
10. Third, through the sign of the regenerating water he manifested the kindness of redeeming clemency. And John 21:14 speaks of this: This is now the third time Jesus manifested himself to his disciples. These proposed words are appropriate, for first, Christ manifested the clear wisdom in the appearance of the star. Second, he manifested forceful power in the transformation of the water. And third, he now manifested himself by making known his threefold dignity in the benign sanctification of the regenerating waters, and because of this, the perfection of the testimony. In fact, he first manifested himself through the testimony of John the Baptist, second, through the testimony of the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove,' third, through the vocal testimony of the Father. And so the third time he manifested himself, that is, perfectly, because it was the perfect number, due to the manifestation of his threefold power, the perfection of testimony, and the commendation of the Trinitarian mystery. In this regard it could be stated: We are handed over to death for the sake of Jesus, so the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.'° Indeed in baptism, consecrated by merit of the Christ's passion, we are handed over in the death of original sin and actual iniquity, so the new life of Jesus through baptismal grace
149 See Luke 3:22.
150 See 2 Cor 4:11.
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and, at length, penitential grace may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
11. Third it adds: and his disciples believed in him, where the guiding illumination of the disciples is noted.
The apostles and indeed other Christians, on account of whose fathers, sons are born,'*' through the infusion of supernatural grace and the guidance of this and other signs of Christ, and most of all by the guidance of the above mentioned signs, were thus perfectly illuminated to believe first, that the exceedingly harsh kingdom of Pharaoh was exterminated by his power; second, that the blind eye of reason was illuminated by his wisdom; third, that the ancient war between God and humanity was brought to an end by his clemency.
12. First, therefore, the disciples believed that the exceedingly harsh kingdom of Pharaoh was exterminated by his power. And the Epistle of Jude 5 speaks of this:
Jesus saved his people from the land of Egypt; he left those who did not believe to perish. Egypt is indeed interpreted as anxiety and dark tribulation." So now Jesus saved his people who believed in him from the land of Egypt when he saved them from anxiety of their own iniquities, from the blindness of damning ignorance, from the oppression or tribulation of adverse powers through the reception of general pardon, the infusion of illumination grace, and the avoidance of oppressive punishment.
And he left those who did not believe to perish in the damnation of eternal death.
1! See Ps 44:17: "For the sake of your fathers sons are born to you.
12 See CCSL lxxii, 61: "Egypt means tribulation that hems one " in.
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LY, 13. Second, the disciples believed that the blind eye of reason was illuminated by his wisdom. Therefore John
12:46: I am the light come into the world, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. This word is faithful and worthy of complete acceptance since Christ is the brightness of eternal light,' the light of the angels, come into the world tempered but not obscured by the cloud of humanity, so he might be made the light to all those on earth and that all who believe humbly and with reverence in him, may not remain in the darkness' of damning ignorance, but have the light of life. And this is what was foreshadowed in the illumination of the blind man who humbly believed in Christ and even adored him with reverence, according to John 9:35: Do you believe in the Son of God? And the following: Lord, I believe, and prostrating, he adored him.'*® 14. Third, the disciples believed the ancient war between God and humanity was brought to an end by his clemency. Whence John 1:12: He gave the power to become children of God to those who believed in his name. O ineffable gift, o amiable virtue, without which the remaining virtues vanish. Even though the growth of all the other graced virtues proceeds from love, nevertheless, they have their prime foundation in faith since without faith, it is impossible to please God.'*' This is the virtue, namely, faith in the Crucified, which binds together those who clash, brings to an end the ancient war between God and humanity by restraint and pacification, and makes not only a friend from the enemy, but truly a beloved, adopted son. This is what placates the demanding anger of justice
153 See 1 Tim 1:15.
154 See Wis 7:26.
155 See John 12:46.
156 See John 9:38.
157 See Hebr 11:6.
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through mitigation and even removal. This is what defeats the undefeatable, obtaining all good things through petition. Whence John 16:23-27: Whatever you will ask the Father in my name, he will give to'you, ... and I will ask the Father for you.... Indeed the Father himself loves you because you love me and believed that I came from God. Let us pray, etc.