The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Originally related to the epistle appointed for this Sunday of Matthew 8:1-13 where Jesus put forth his hand

Is 41:8,   Psalms 20, 21 | 27, 29   Romans xii. 16   &   St. John ii. 1
Homilies

But thou hast kept the good wine until now

 

Psalms 20, 21 | 27, 29

Isaiah 41:8-1 & 17-20

But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Romans xii. 16

BE not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

St. John ii. 1.

AND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When theruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set 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 forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.


Other homilies Chrysostom on Romans xii 14

Augustine on Psalm XX | XXVII


Homily of Augustine


The fact that the Lord was pleased be asked and thereupon to go to the marriage. sheweth plainly enough (apart from any mystical significance in his act) that he is the Author and Blesser of marriage. For there were those of whom the Apostle hath warned us, who were yet to come, which same were to prohibit marriage, and to say that matrimony is a bad thing in itself, and a work of the devil. As against any such teaching, we read in the Gospel that when the Lord was asked, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? he answered that cause of fornication. In which answer ye will remember that he used these words: What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

They who are well instructed in the Catholic religion know that God is the Author and Blesser of marriage; and that even as union in marriage is of God, so divorce is of the devil. But it is lawful for a man to put away his wife in case of fornication, because she herself hath refused to be a wife in that she keepeth not wedded-faith with her husband [But even a separation between man and wife, such as is here contemplated, doth not of itself give the right to remarry.] They also who have made a vow of their virginity to God, and have thereby attained to a higher degree of holy honour in the Church, are not to be considered as unmarried, for they are a special part of the marriage of the whole Church, which is the Bride of Christ.



HOME