The story is said about Lord Byron, the poet, taking a religious studies exam at Oxford nearly two centuries ago. He and his fellow classmates were asked to write about the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. For two hours all the other students busily filled page after page with their thoughts. However, the young man just wrote one line on the answer sheet and left. When the result came Byron was the topper! Other students complained: How could Byron get to top when he hardly spent half an hour for exam? His paper had to be exposed to verify whether he merited it. Lord Byron had one-line note on his paper: “The Water saw her Master and Blushed.”! His critics were silenced.
Can We Believe in Miracles?
Is it possible to believe in miracles? The famous philosopher David Hume didn’t think so. He believed that miracles were so improbable that it was impossible to believe in them. To believe a miracle had occurred would require the testimony of people of such great learning that they could not possibly be deceived, of such good character that they could not possibly be deceitful, of such high reputation that the loss of face if they were found to be deceitful would be overwhelming, and with the miracle performed publicly in a celebrated part of the world that detection of fraud would be uncovered. In Hume’s view these criteria could never be satisfied. Hume even admits that he knew of miracles in France which “were immediately proved upon the spot before judges of unquestionable integrity, attested by witnesses of credit and distinction, in a learned age, and on the most eminent theatre that is now in the world.” This would seem to meet his criteria, but still he rejects the miracles on the grounds of “the absolute impossibility or miraculous nature of the events which they relate.”
From the Sayings of Desert Fathers
Abba Isidore went one day to see Abba Theophilus, archbishop of Alexandria and when he returned to Scetis the brethren asked him, ‘What is going on in the city?’ But he said to them, ‘Truly, brothers, I did not see the face of anyone there, except that of the archbishop.’ Hearing this they were very anxious and said to him, ‘Has there been a disaster there, then, Abba?’ He said, ‘Not at all, but the thought of looking at anyone did not get the better of me.’ At these words they were filled with admiration, and strengthened in their intention of guarding the eyes from all distraction.