The Second Sunday After The Epiphany, The Gospel John.2.v.42.The Monday 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.

Considerations for Monday

When Christ had chosen: bis disciples; before be would begin to preach the gospel, which was then new doctrine, he would do this miracle in their presence: whereof three or four causes may be assigned. 

First to comfort, and confirm his disciples in their new vocation, and to make them confident in such a Master. 

Secondly to confirm this new doctrine unto others, and to give us to understand, not to receive any new doctrine contrary so his, that was confirmed with true miracles, and not with seeming miracles as Antichrist shall do in the latter time, & much less without any miracle at all, :as is the new doctrine of these days; unless it be a miracle to persuade frail men to give over fasting, prayer, Sacramental confession, of their Sins to a priest, vows of chastity, and the like, and follow liberty, as many do in this latter age: Which never was done before in our country since our conversion to Christianity by the Religious of St. Benedict's Order, (which was more then a thousand years ago,) nor in other countries at all, especially, the Romans, who have ever held the same faith which Saint Paul commended in them and was famous as he said, in all the world. 

Which words of Saint Paul were not only a testimony what their faith then was: but also a Prophecy or prediction as it seem of the continuance thereof what it should be to the worlds end; that in case our faith should fail or be corrupted, we might have a bright shining candle to enlighten us again, set not under a bushel, but upon a Candlestick, that all the world may see. 

A Church there was that Christ promised the gates of hell should not prevail; none more likely to be it, then that where Saint Peter had his seat, to whom the promise was made, to whom Christ committed the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven. 

Another cause was, to signify unto us, that the old law in comparison of the gospel of Christ or the new law, where unto it is now so happily turned, is no better, then water in comparison of the best wine Lastly supposing Saint John the Evangelist was the bridegroom, and that Christ, though he suffered him to marry, yet would have him to relinquish, and leave his wife before he knew her: to lived perpetual virgin, as is probable he did; we may consider that be most willingly left his new espouse untouched, and all things else to follow Christ, and that Christ wrought as great miracle of grace in this, as the other was in nature: which we may persuade ourselves he did to animate, and encourage the other disciples willingly to forſake that which was less, when they saw him to forſake that which was mores and that we likewise may learn by this example of Saint John to renounce, and forſake what so ever dearest unto us, to follow Christ, as he did; and that the more dear unto us the thing is we renounce, and forsake for Christ: the more dearly he will love us, as he did him.

A Plaine Path-Way To Heaven By Fr.Thomas Hill 1634