João 2
Romanos the Melodist
João 2:3
When Christ was present at the marriage feast, and the crowd of guests were faring sumptuously, The supply of wine failed them, and their joy was turned into distress; The bridegroom was upset; the cupbearers muttered unceasingly; There was this one sad display of penury, And there was no small clamor in the room. Recognizing it, the all-holy Mary Came at once and said to her son: "They have no wine, But I beg you, my son, show that you can do all things, Thou who has in wisdom created all things." We beg of you, holy Virgin, from what sort of miracles did you know How your son would be able to offer wine when He had not harvested the grapes And had never before worked wonders, as John, inspired of God wrote? Teach us, how, when you had never gazed upon And never made trial of His miracles, How did you summon Him to this miracle? For the question now posed to us in this matter is not simple, As to how you said to your son: "Give them wine," He who has in wisdom created all things. Let us learn the word which the mother of the God of all said to us: "Listen," she said, "my friends, instruct yourselves and know the mystery; I have seen my son working miracles even before this miracle. … "For I know that I did not know a husband, And I bore a son—beyond natural law and reason, And I know that I remained a virgin as I had been. Do you, O man, ask for a miracle greater than this birth? Gabriel came to me saying how this one would be born, He who has in wisdom created all things. "After my conception, I myself saw Elizabeth call me Mother of God before the actual birth; after the birth, Simeon praised me in song; Anna greeted me with joy; the Magi from Persia hastened to the manger, For a heavenly star proclaimed the birth in advance; Shepherds with angels heralded joy, And creation rejoiced with them. What would I be able to ask for greater than these miracles? Indeed from them I have faith that it is my son Who has in wisdom created all things." — KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.5-9
João 2:4
But Christ seeing His mother saying, "Grant me this request," At once said to her: "What do you wish, woman, my hour has not come." Certain men made use of this saying as a pretext for impiety; They said that Christ, submitted to necessity, They said that He was a slave to periods of time. … "Now answer, my child," said the all-holy mother of Christ, "Thou who dost control with measurement the periods of time, how, my son and Lord, dost Thou await a time? Thou who hast regulated the division of the seasons, how dost thou await a season? Thou who art the creator of the visible and the invisible, Thou who, as master, dost day and night regulate The ceaseless revolutions, as Thou dost will them— Thou who hast defined the years in beautifully ordered cycles— How, then, dost Thou await a time for the miracle which I ask of Thee Who hast in wisdom created all things?" "I knew before you told me, revered Virgin, that the wine was just beginning to give out for them," The Ineffable and Merciful straightway answered His holy mother. "I know all the concerns of your heart which you set in motion in this matter; For within yourself you reasoned as follows: 'Necessity now summons my son to a miracle, And He puts it off under the pretext of "the time." ' Holy mother, learn now the meaning of the delay, For when you know it, I shall grant you this favor, I, who in wisdom have created all things. — KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.10-12
João 2:4
"At the time when I brought forward Heavens and the Earth and all things from a state of nonexistence, I would have been quite able at that time to arrange in order at once all that I had produced; But I introduced a certain well-regulated order. Creation was accomplished in six days— Not that I did not have the power, But in order that the chorus of angels, seeing what I did, each deed in turn, Would deify me, singing a hymn: 'Glory to Thee, Powerful One, Who hast in wisdom created all things.' … "Mark what I say, holy one; for at this time I was willing first To announce to the Israelites and to teach them the hope of faith, In order that in the presence of miracles they might learn thoroughly who has sent me, And that they might know with certainty the glory of my Father, And his will, for He desires that in every way I be glorified along with Him by all. For what He who engendered me has done, these things I also do, Since I am consubstantial with Him and His Spirit, I, who have in wisdom created all things. "For if they had understood all these things at the time when they saw the awesome miracles, They would understand that I am God before time, even though I have become man. But now, contrary to order, before the teaching, you have asked for miracles; And it is for this reason that I delayed a short time in answer to you: If I was waiting for the time to perform miracles, It was for this reason alone. But, since it is necessary that parents be honored by their children, I shall pay observance to you, Mother, for I am able to do all things, I, who have in wisdom created all things." — KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.13-16
João 2:11
When Christ, as a sign of His power, clearly changed the water into wine All the crowd rejoiced, for they considered the taste marvelous. Now we all partake at the banquet in the church For Christ's blood is changed into wine And we drink it with holy joy, Praising the great bridegroom, For he is the true bridegroom, the Son of Mary, The Word before all time who took the form of a servant, He who has in wisdom created all things. — KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.20