Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

VERECUNDUS:

“They descended to the depths like lead in the mighty water.” The “depths” are to be understood as carnal living, which tosses them to and fro on waves of sin. It drowns their self-absorbed souls and sends them to the bottom. Gossip, jealousy, depravity, cruelty and envy are the waves of worldly vice.¹

APHRAHAT:

For you, Sennacherib, are the ax in the hands of him that cuts, and you are the saw in the hands of him that saws, and the rod in the hand of him that wields you for chastisement, and you are the staff for smiting. You are sent against the fickle people, and again you are ordained against the stubborn people, that you may carry away the captivity and take the spoil; and you have made them as the mire of the streets for all people and for all the Gentiles. And when you have done all these things, why are you exalted against him who holds you, and why do you boast against him who saws with you, and why have you reviled the holy city?²

THEODORE OF HERACLEA:

Jesus called the Jews wise, either because they were entrusted with the oracles of God or because they were evil-doers and wise at doing evil, but he called the apostles children. He called the scribes and Pharisees wise, though they did not really possess wisdom but only what appeared to be wisdom because of their cleverness with words. He called the fishermen, who were unskilled in evil, children. In this way, the grace of God was clearly manifested as Jesus made himself known to simple men.… And even if it was Christ himself who, for the most part, did these things, nevertheless, by giving thanks for them as things done by the Father, he shows that they share a common will and gives thanks for God’s love for us in the things by which we have received benefit.³

1. COMMENTARY ON THE CANTICLE OF EXODUS 1:10–11. McKinion, S. A. (Ed.). (2004). Isaiah 1-39 (p. 86). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
2. DEMONSTRATION 5.4. McKinion, S. A. (Ed.). (2004). Isaiah 1-39 (p. 86). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
3. FRAGMENT 80. Simonetti, M. (Ed.). (2001). Matthew 1–13 (p. 230). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.