Herbert McCabe

But the astonishing teaching of Christianity is that God has, so to speak, done the next best thing. He could not make man by nature divine, but he has given him divinity as a gift. This is what we call grace. We do share in the divine nature, we do behave like God, but not by nature. We can do what God does, but in God it is natural, in us it is not – we call it supernatural.

Just as it would be supernatural to a horse to write a poem, so it is supernatural to a human being to behave like God. This means that our divinity must always come as a surprise, something eternally astonishing. We could never get used to it and say: “Well, naturally enough.”

These are the greatest miracles, these the wonderful signs. If we go on working these signs, we shall both ourselves be a great and admirable sort of persons through these, and shall win over all the wicked unto virtue, and shall enjoy the life to come; unto which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might forever and ever.

Faith Within Reason, edited and introduced by Brian Davies OP (Continuum, 2007), 20–21.

J. Kirk Richards, Miracle at Cana, paper, latex paint, acrylic paint, coffee, wood glue, iron, and rust, 2021. Used by permission.

Augustine of Hippo

The miracle indeed of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby he made the water into wine, is not marvelous to those who know that it was God’s doing. For he who made wine on that day at the marriage feast, in those six water-pots, which he commanded to be filled with water, the self-same does this every year in vines. For even as that which the servants put into the water-pots was turned into wine by the doing of the Lord, so in like manner also is what the clouds pour forth changed into wine by the doing of the same Lord. But we do not wonder at the latter, because it happens every year: it has lost its marvelousness by its constant recurrence. And yet it suggests a greater consideration than that which was done in the water-pots. For who is there that considers the works of God, whereby this whole world is governed and regulated, who is not amazed and overwhelmed with miracles? If he considers the vigorous power of a single grain of any seed whatever, it is a mighty thing, it inspires him with awe. But since people, intent on a different matter, have lost the consideration of the works of God, by which they should daily praise him as the Creator, God has, as it were, reserved to himself the doing of certain extraordinary actions, that, by striking them with wonder, he might rouse people as from sleep to worship him. A dead man has risen again; people marvel: so many are born daily, and none marvels. If we reflect more considerately, it is a matter of greater wonder for one to be who was not before, than for one who was to come to life again.

Yet the same God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does by his word all these things; and it is he who created that governs also. The former miracles he did by his Word, God with himself; the latter miracles he did by the same Word incarnate, and for us made man. As we wonder at the things which were done by the man Jesus, so let us wonder at the things which were done by Jesus God. By Jesus God were made heaven, and earth, and the sea, all the garniture of heaven, the abounding riches of the earth, and the fruitfulness of the sea – all these things which lie within the reach of our eyes were made by Jesus God. And we look at these things, and if his own spirit is in us they in such manner please us, that we praise him that contrived them; not in such manner that turning ourselves to the works we turn away from the Maker, and, in a manner, turning our face to the things made and our backs to him that made them.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 7. Edited by Philip Schaff (Christian Literature, 1888).