THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, THE GOSPEL JOHN.2.V.42.THE FRIDAY MEDITATION

GOSPEL (John 2:1-11)

At that time, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: "They have no wine." And Jesus saith to her: "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour is not yet come." His mother saith to the waiters: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: "Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast." And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him: "Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Friday

This was the beginning of the miracles of Jesus, where by he manifested his glory. 

Do not the heavens manifest the glory of God, as well as this miracle, of turning water into wine? and doeth not the firmament declare the works of his hand? and are not they miracles as well as this? was is it not a greater miracle, to feed all the world with bread, and wine, out of the bowels of the earth, then to turn a little. water into wine are not the heavens arid earth, and all things therein contained To many tongues to declare, and manifest the glory of God? doubtless they are. 

Heaven, and earth (saith Saint Augustine) & all things therein contained tell me that I must love thee, O my God. 

But as sometimes, by reason of the interposition of a dark cloud or thick mist, we cannot see the heavens: so by reason of the continual, and ordinary use of the creatures of God, which are as it were so many miracles; we cannot take occasion to lift up our minds. to heaven, to glorify, and praise God so much by them being ordinary, and common by other miracles that are extraordinaire, and rare. 

And therefore Christ did few & extraordinary miracle; which did manifest his glory and stir up the people to love and praise him exceeding much. 

A mans eldest son, when he is a boy, though be know his father will, make him his heir, and bestow all his inheritance upon him: yet because this is and ordinary thing, and he think it in some sort due unto him, he esteem more of his fathers love, and kindness in giving him now, & then a little money in his purse, to play or spend, or Some other trifle, then of his inheritance; and fathers knowing this do commonly use even now and then so to do. 

Even so doeth almighty God do unto us, reserving certain, new miracles even now , and then to manifest his glory the more and to renew his love in our hearts. 

There are the inventions of God, to win our love, where of he stand in no need, but because we have need of his, he sheweth that we should excogitate how to win his favor, and grace, whereof we have so great need, that without it we cannot subsist one moment, neither in body nor soul. 

No better invention can we excogitate then this consideration, that for as much as the whole world, and all things therein contained, were created for the use, and behoove of man, and that unless God did every moment preserve them, they could not subsist one moment, but would return to nothing whereof they were created, and that the conservation thereof is as great a miracle as the creation: We would behold the heavens, the earth, and all things therein as new, and daily miracles, which do manifest to us the goodness, and glory of God; as well as this extraordinary miracle of changing water into wine, and the like; and behold them; as so many tongues to exhort us to to the love, and fear of God; and that we would make them our books, as Saint Anthony did... By this exerciſe came the bleſſed Virgin Mary to haue all ways in her mouth this watch word, Deo gratias; that is to say, thanks be to God. 

This example of hers doe religions persons imitate, saying all ways, when they are called, or when any knock at their chamber door, Deo gratis, thanks be to God. 

This exercise being well put in practice, is enough to makers Saints. 

This is that hidden wisdom, and knowledge the Prophet David saith God had manifested unto him, and that Manna which hath the taste of all manner of spiritual delights, that is to say of joy, and thanksgiving for every thing in the world; in his kind, all being made for our use, and to show the love, and goodness of Gods towards man. 

If we should perceive that God should every day, and every hour of the day create a new all things for our use as he did at sort; how sweet would the Manna of such a benefit be unto our soul, having so many sundry tastes in it, as be things the which we use. 

This God doth daily, and hourly for us; for considering that all things, if they were not continually, not only every day, and hour but every moment, conserved of God, by no less power then they were created, would return to nothing, from whence they were created; we may infer that be daily, and hourly yea: every, moment created them anew, for which Psalm the Prophet David exhort to sing unto our Lord a new song, that is to say song of thanksgiving or all his creatures, as if they were newly created.

A PLAINE PATH-WAY TO HEAVEN BY FR.THOMAS HILL 1634