The reason why God in 3 Persons did not create the world in one day, is explained here by St. Romanos, –– a Church Father, speaking in the Spirit, who lived long before there ever was a theory of evolution. We should strive to see the Story of Creation the same way the Holy Fathers saw it, –– as if we never heard of the theory of evolution.
from the book:
The Life of the Virgin Mary, The Theotokos
Chapter 18,
The Marriage at Cana,
section:
"Mine Hour is Not Yet Come"
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“MINE HOUR IS NOT YET COME”
What is the meaning of “Mine hour is not yet come” [Jn. 2:4]? Saint Neophytos (1134-1220), the Recluse of Cyprus, takes the “hour” to mean that of His miracles. Some feel that the “hour” mentioned by Jesus may refer to Golgotha [Jn. 12:27], when he again addresses her as “Woman”. In Johannine usage throughout the Gospel, “hour” refers to death or glorification. The Greek Fathers thought mostly of the “hour” as the beginning of miracles.
According to St. Romanos, certain men made use of this saying as a pretext to impiety. They said that Christ submitted to necessity; they said that He was a slave to periods of time; but they also do not understand the meaning of this phrase. However, the mouths of the impious that practice evil have been stopped because straightaway He performed the miracle. 20
The explanation given by St. John Chrysostom for Christ’s answer, “My hour is not yet come” was not because He was subject to the need of the times, or because He was governed by the hour, but He desires to make plain that He does all things in a fitting time.
Returning to the dialogue in St. Romanos’ hymns, Christ addresses His Mother, and reveals to her the following,
Christ: “I knew before thou told me, O revered Virgin, that the wine was just beginning to give out for them. I know all the concerns of thy heart that thou hast set in motion in this matter. For within thyself thou hast reasoned as follows, ‘Necessity now summons <330> my son to a miracle and He puts it off under the pretext of “the time”.’ Holy Mother, learn now the meaning of the delay, for when thou wilt know it, I shall grant thee this favor.21
“Lift up thy heart as these words, and know, O chaste one, what I am saying. At the time when I brought forward heaven and earth and all things from a state of nonexistence, I would have been quite able at that time to arrange in order at once all that I had produced; but I introduced a certain well-regulated order. Creation was accomplished in six days—not that I did not have the power, but in order that the chorus of angels, seeing what I did, each deed in turn, would glorify Me, singing a hymn: ‘Glory to Thee, O Powerful One, Who hast in wisdom created all things.’”22
And this is true, for we read in the Book of Job: “When the stars were made, all My angels praised Me with a loud voice” [Job 38:7].
Christ: “Listen carefully, O holy one. I did allow being conceived and born as a man, taking milk at thy breasts, O Virgin, and everything in Me progressed in order. For as far as I am concerned nothing is without order. And so now I am willing to accomplish the miracle in a well-regulated order. 23
“But now, contrary to order, before the teaching. Thou hast asked for miracles. It is for this reason that I delayed a short time in answer to thee. Bit since it is necessary that parents be honored by their children, I shall pay observance to thee, O Mother, for I am able to do all things.”24
Saint John Chrysostom further explains this verse saying that “Christ was not yet known to those present, nor did all immediately realize that the wine was failing. He wished them to be fully appraised that there was a need and then they would appreciate more the benefit received.”25
