The Scattering of the Disciples as Poured Water

Their mouth is like a roaring lion snatching and roaring. They were prepared to be like oxen. But they changed into ferocity, as if to open their mouth against me, according to the roaring lion; for then especially it harms greatly, when it roars. Therefore, their wildness and their mocking attitude against the Savior signifies—for he says, 'as a roaring lion, they opened their mouth' (Ps 35:23)—that they are no longer quiet, no longer intending to be quiet. These then, who seemed to be quiet by meditating on the law of God, were oxen, until they desired to open their mouth against me and to say: 'Crucify, crucify him; we have no king but Caesar' (Jn 19:15), according to the lion that was not satisfied, they have done this.

But was the passion not yet? All these things are said prophetically. Things that are possible before they exist, before they come into being by energy, in a state of possibility they both may come to be and may not. And no one has the power to guarantee whether it will happen or not; for toward both sides both possibilities are equally likely. But when someone having foreknowledge, or God himself, foreknows that of the possible things this shall be, as it happens to us, when it already exists; for upon the existing and the having happened already, we have the power to say which is true and which is false, whether it has happened or has not happened. But upon the future things, we do not have the power to say this, but only to say that the other will be, but not this. Since therefore even here a divine eye saw the future in advance, it is no longer to him as possible things. Because of this he says: 'They laid hands on my hands and my feet.' If another were speaking, he would not have said this, but 'they will lay hands' or 'they will not lay hands.'

Like water I was poured out, and all my bones were scattered (Ps 22:14). He speaks of the scattering of the body here, of them, of the disciples, when all were scandalized and it is filled: 'all you will be scandalized' (Mt 26:56). And the hour will come when all you will flee, you will go to your own, and you will leave me alone (Jn 13:38). Just as the water that is being poured out.

It always runs and does not stand still; so also here, 'as water they were poured out' (Ps 22:14). He did not say 'they are being poured out,' for they do not remain in such a state always. What he says concerning himself, he says concerning himself regarding the body which is the sum of the faithful of the church. 'My bones'—the support of my body; for the apostles were more supportive than those who believe. And these were scattered. My heart became like wax melting in the midst of my belly (Ps 22:15); were his bones scattered? This occurred when the disciples were stumbled. This poured-out water, unless it becomes an obstacle, is always carried along. And the disciples, therefore, were scattered, as if they were poured-out water. When they were around him, they were gathered like river water, being a spring. But when they went out from him, it happened at a certain time, like the water that is poured out. And the water will stand one day; for it is not always carried along. So also the disturbance and the stumbling of the disciples will immediately cease, which has already happened.

My heart became like wax melting in the midst of my belly (Ps 22:15). The heart of this body, which is composed of the sum of those having believed, is the spiritual part. And these, therefore, became like melting wax, those who are the heart of him. However, even if the wax melted, it did not happen outside of his belly; for they are within his belly, so that they may be formed again. After the disturbance, indeed, those who had experienced it were shown again to be sons of the Savior. But what kind of disturbance? It was a passion extended for a little while, not so as to remain. And the melting of the wax does not happen always, but when it melts, it changes into some vessel or some other use, and again it is gathered, not far from the belly of the one producing this heart. But for what purpose the belly? It is the very power of the Savior, through which he forms and begets. If he again produces the procreators of the body, Paul, being of the body, was saying: 'through the gospel I have begotten you' (2 Cor 5:19). And: 'those whom...'