Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/574

 "Woman," He  says  to  her  at  Cana,  "  Woman,  what is  there  between  Me,  the  miracle-worker,  and  thee?  " Yet when  she  pointed  to  the  bystanders  unconscious of His  divinity  and  bade  them  do  His  bidding,  He, for their  sake,  not  hers,  changed  the  water  into  wine. Not once  thereafter  was  she  present  at  a  miracle;  not once did  He  appear  to  her  after  the  Resurrection. Why? Because she  needed  it  not;  her  faith  was  perfect. Again, did  you  ever  reflect  why  Christ's  humanity is  always  brought  out  in  the  strongest,  most human, aspect  on  the  occasion  of  His  greatest  miracles? The star  shines  and  the  angels  visibly  and audibly hover  over  Bethlehem,  but  within  is  a  helpless, poverty-stricken  child. Angels guard  Him,  and yet He  flees  for  His  life  into  Egypt. He astonishes the doctors  in  the  Temple,  yet  He  goes  down  to Nazareth  with  the  carpenter  and  his  wife  and  is  subject to  them. The Father  proclaims  "  Thou  art  My beloved  Son"  over  a  village  stripling  seeking  the baptism of  John. He is  tempted  by  Satan,  and angels minister  to  Him. Now He  is  asleep  for  very weariness and  yet  He  stills  the  storm  at  sea;  now  He is  hungry  but  marvellously  feeds  five  thousand;  now He ministers  as  a  slave  and  institutes  the  Holy  Eucharist. Again, His  enemies  fall  before  Him,  but lead Him  away  captive. Again, Nature  trembles and the  dead  rise  at  His  cry,  but  He  dies  of  pain  and thirst on  the  cross. Ah, how  careful  He  was  never to do  violence  to  man's  freedom! How quick  always, and  especially  in  the  moments  of  greatest exaltation, to  present  some  phase  of  His  personality