Wonder And Belief

Et factum est, cum consummasset Jesus verba haec, admirabantur turbae super doctina ejus. Placatus rationabiliter intellectus hominis laudem generat: victus autem, admirationem. Quicquid autem digne laudare non possumus, hoc admiramur. Admiratio tamen eorum magis ad Christi gloriam pertinebat, quam ad fidem ipsorum. Non enim ideo mirabantur, quasi credentes in Christum essent, non mirarentur, sed potius crederent. Nam omne dictum aut factum illud movet admirationem, quod superat facientis aut dicentis personam. Utputa, autem magnum sit, quod Deus dicit aut facit, tamen minus est quam Dei potentia. Ideo quicquid a Deo factum aut dictum audimus, non admiremur, quia omnia minora quam Dei potentia. Tamen audiebat populus cum silentio et gravitate, et admirans proficiebat in verbis ipsius: quia admiratio, etsi ipsa non est ex fide, tamen invitatio est ad fidem. Nam qui admiratur de verbis doctinae, quamvis adhuc non credat, tamen jam in ipso limine credulitatis consistit, ut credat. Turbae erant quae mirabantur, id est, populus vulgaris. Non erant illic Pharisaei, aut principes populi, aut sacerdotes, qui solent non discendi studio audire, sed contradicendi, non ut aliquid salutis acquirant, sed ut aliquid calumniae inveniant. Et ideo simpliciter audiebat populus simplex. Si autem aliqui eorum affuissent, sine dubio silentium et gravitatem populi, sicut consueti fuerant, contradictionibus suis conturbassent: qui ubi major scientia, illic malitia fortior. Qui enim festinaverit esse prior, difficle contentus erat esse secundus. Opus Imperfectum in Matthaeum, Homilia XX Source: Migne PG 56.746

And when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching. 1 When the understanding of man is pleased by reason it gives praise, but when it is overcome it is amazed. For whatever we are not capable of worthily praising, we are amazed at. Their wonder, however, pertained more to the glory of Christ than to their faith. For they did not wonder as believers in Christ, since believers do not wonder but believe. Everything said or done that moves to wonder is because it surpasses the one doing or speaking. So though it may be great what God says or does, it is not less than the power of God. Therefore, whatever is done by God, or we hear said, we do not wonder at, because everything is less than the power of God. However, the people hearing in silence and sincerity, were profited by their wonder at His words, because wonder, even if it does not come from faith, yet is an invitation to faith. For he who is amazed at the words of teaching, although he does not yet believe, yet by that is set on the threshold of believing, so that he may believe. The crowds were amazed, that is, the common people were. They were not Pharisees, or rulers of the people, or priests, who are not accustomed to hear with an eagerness to learn, but to dispute, and that not that they grasp something of salvation, but that they find something to claim as fault. Therefore, the simple people who were listening in simplicity, as they were accustomed, would have been confused by such disputations, because where there is more knowledge, there is greater evil. He who hastens to be first, has difficulty in being content to be second. Opus Imperfectum on Matthew, from Homily 20 1 Mt 7.28