When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame scorch you.
Read Chapter 43
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
We are wayfarers in this life. Many are walking along this way. All need to make a good passage. The Lord Jesus is walking with one who is making a good passage. Thus we read, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers shall not cover you, nor fire burn your garments when you shall walk through.” But one who keeps a fire pent up in his body, the fire of lust, the fire of immoderate desire, does not pass through but burns the covering of his soul. A good name is more excellent than money, and above heaps of silver is good favor. Faith itself redounds to itself, sufficiently rich and more than rich in its possession. There is nothing that is not the possession of the wise person except what is contrary to virtue. Wherever he goes, he finds all things to be his. The whole world is his possession, since he uses it all as his own. - "Letter 15"
If you watch and seek, the Lord says, “Here I am,” and “If you pass through fire,” I am with you “and the flames shall not consume you.” If you ask through prayer, you will find, and if you knock through giving to the poor, Christ opens the doors to you in order that you may enter and possess paradise. Now if you still think that anything will remain at the end of the world, consider your own end. - "Sermon 158a.i"
“Even if we cross over, they shall not slip, says the Lord.” We shall not slip into corruption, we who are crossing over into incorruption, because he himself will support us. For so he himself has said and so he has willed. - "Christ the Educator 1.9.84"
Waters. In every emergency, God will protect thee, (Calmet) as he did the three children. (Haydock)
He will suffer none to perish, without their own fault. Hence the Church still continues pure. (Worthington)
For the rivers overflow those whom the active business of this world confounds with perturbation of mind. But one who is sustained in mind by the grace of the Holy Spirit passes through the waters and yet is not swamped by the rivers, because in the midst of crowds of peoples he so proceeds along his way as not to sink the head of his mind beneath the active business of the world. - "Letter 7.4"
“If thou go through fire, thou shalt not be burned, and the rivers shall not flow over thee.” Faith has many times worked such things before the eyes of all creation. If knowledge were given the opportunity to attempt such things, it would in no wise be persuaded. For it is by faith that men have entered into flames and bridled the burning power of the fire, walking unharmed through the midst thereof, and they have trodden upon the back of the sea as upon dry land. All these are above nature and opposed to the modes of knowledge. - "Ascetical Homilies 52"
Become guileless, and be like the guileless sheep whose wool is sheared off without their saying a word. Do not go from one place to another saying, “I will find God here or there.” God has said, I fill the earth, “I fill the heavens,” and again, “If you cross the water, I am with you.” - "Instructions 1.25"
