ACC ~ John 6 v14

A PROPHET LIKE MOSES

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: Thus, when they were satisfied, they saw that he had fed them in the wilderness, as Moses [had done] with prayer, and they cried out, saying, “This is the prophet about whom it was said that he is coming into the world.” They were repeating the [prophecy] of Moses that “The Lord will raise up a prophet for you,” not someone ordinary, but rather “like me,” [1] who will fill you with bread in the desert; “like me,” he walked on the sea, [2] and appeared in the cloud. [3] He set his church free from circumcision, and he appointed John, the virgin, in place of Joshua son of Nun. He entrusted Mary, his church, to him, [4] as Moses his flock to Joshua, [5] so that this [prophecy] “like me” would be fulfilled. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 12.5. [6]

[1] Deut 18:15.

[2] HE WORD IN THE BEGINNING | JOHN 1:1

[3] See Mt 17:5.

[4] See Jn 19:25-27.

[5] See Deut 31:7-8.

[6] CB709:78-80.

EVERYDAY MIRACLES NO LESS MIRACULOUS

AUGUSTINE: The divine substance is not visible to the eye, and the miracles of the divine government of the world and ordering of the whole creation are overlooked because of their constancy. … Because of this, God has reserved for himself acts that are above and beyond the established course and order of nature that he does at suitable times. He does this so that those who overlooked the daily course of nature might be roused to wonder by the sight of what was different from—though not at all greater than—what they were used to. The government of the world is certainly a greater miracle than satisfying the hunger of five thousand with five loaves; and yet no one wonders at this. The miracle excited wonder, not from any real superiority in it but because it was rare…. But it would be wrong to gather no more than this from Christ’s miracles…. Let us understand that the Lord on the mount is the Word on high…. He saw the multitude and knew they were hungry, and so he mercifully fed them not only in virtue of his goodness but also of his power. For what could mere goodness do when there was not even enough bread to feed the hungry crowd? If power had not accompanied goodness, the crowd would have remained fasting and hungry. In short, the disciples, hungry themselves, also wanted to feed the multitudes, but they did not have the wherewithal to feed them. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 24.1-3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:158-59**.