St. Ambrose returns to the story of the widow of
Sarepta, and shows that she represented the Church, hence that she was
an example to virgins, married women, and widows. Then he refers
to the prophet as setting forth Christ, inasmuch as he foretold the
mysteries and the rain which was to come. Next he touches upon
and explains the twofold sign of Gideon, and points out that it is not
in every one’s power to work miracles, and that the Incarnation
of Christ and the rejection of the Jews were foreshadowed in that
account.