Tractates on the Gospel of John
182 ST. AUGUSTINE (2) And so let us not be amazed that God did it; but let us be filled with love because he did it among us and did it for our renewal. For in these actions he was giving some sign to us. I think that he did not come to the wedding without a reason. The miracle apart, something mysterious and symbolic lies hidden in the very act. Let us knock that he may open and may inebriate us with invisible wine; for we, too, were water and he made us wine, he made us wise.
(3) For we are tasting the wisdom of his faith who before were unwise. And, perhaps, it belongs to this wisdom itself, with the honor of God, with the praise of his majesty, with the love of his most powerful mercy, to understand what was done in this miracle.
4. The Lord was invited and came to a wedding. What wonder if he came to that house for a wedding who came to this world for a wedding? For if he did not come for a wedding, he does not have a bride here. What is it that the Apostle said?
'T have joined you to one man to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."^ Why is it that he fears that the virginity of Christ's bride may be corrupted by the devil's cunning? "I fear," he says, "that as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, so also your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity and chastity which is in Christ."^ (2) Therefore he has a bride here whom he has redeemed by his blood and to whom he has given the Holy Spirit as a pledge.^ He wrested her from enslavement to the devil, he died for her sins. He arose again for her justification.^ Who will offer such great things to his bride? Men may offer some trinkets or other from the earth such as gold, silver, precious stones, horses, slaves, farms, estates. Will anyone offer his blood? For if he gives his blood to his bride, he will not be alive to take her as his wife. But the Lord, dying free of anxiety, gave his blood for her in order that when he arose, he might have her whom he had already joined to himself in the womb of the Virgin.
5. Cf. 2 Cor 1 1.2. 7. Cf. 2 Cor 1.22. 6. Cf. 2 Cor 1 1.3. 8. Cf. Rom 4.25.