Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We saw the homage of the Kings two weeks ago and their un-practical gifts that honored the Child Jesus and who he is: a king, God, and one who would die for us. We saw that the Magi were in search of some kind of meaning in their lives even thought they had everything you could ask for.
Last week we saw the Trinity in action. It was physically spread from heaven in the voice of the Father, in mid-air as a dove which is a symbol of peace and in the lowest point of earth where the Son was allowing John to baptize him. He had no sin but through baptism all of our sins are wiped clean. It is important for us to rediscover our own baptism, which you probably don’t remember and for many today it was one of their few times in church.
Baptism also reminds us to turn around, to see that God is close to us and acting in our life. It is not to abase myself but to have a clear sense of my worth in the eyes of God. To turn around is not a humiliation but a sign of intelligence. Something is broken or clogged or lacking in my life and God will help us when we turn to him. There is a possibility of living in a noble way that is part of who I am.
Today we continue with this Epiphany or manifestation of Christ to the world, and the start of his public life. It is striking to see that his first miracle is not a healing of a disease or a blindness or a leprosy or raising someone from the dead. It is a miracle of joy. It brings joy to this particular occasion and to perform a sign, or also a sacrament, of his presence among us.
Daily miracles are needed for marriage today. And Jesus takes something that is washed up and turns it into something wonderful, like really good wine. There is no talk of suffering, or self-denial, or impending death. There is only his presence and our willingness to see him.
So don’t rush to the next season of the Church year, enjoy this time when we hear these gospels that show us Christ. He is manifesting himself to the world. We have a few weeks to observe Christ, to celebrate him and to understand this sign of Marriage more deeply.
The joy of the world always runs out, but not the joy that Christ brings. It is a wise couple that invites Christ to their wedding; a couple who marries in a church with a priest. Christ is the one who will always give you the best. We settle for little when God wants to give us so much.
By the way, as an aside, the longer a couple lives together the higher their chance of divorce. A commitment is harder to break when it is done in a formal way, in a church, with a priest, with a community. There are always exceptions but the statistics today prove what is said here.
For this miracle to take place three things are necessary:
First, is to obey, like the servants did in the gospel. They didn’t question or doubt him; they followed his instructions. Second, they did in with joy. They filled the water jars to the brim. It was not half-hearted. Lastly, they were patient. Jesus only told them the next thing to do. He did not explain everything that what would happen. Often we want to be told what will happen next, and then step two, and step three and four….. We need to know it all ahead of time. What will happen next month, and in three months, in one year, etc? If you explain it all clearly then I will do it. But the Lord works one step at a time. Obey and then wait and see what he will do next.
The only ones who knew what was happening were the servants; they were the lowest people. It is like Jesus first appearance in Bethlehem. Not many knew of him; it was revealed only to some lowly shepherds who were hated by the Jews.
The night before Jesus died when he was celebrating the great feast of Passover he probably thought of this first miracle when he was changing the wine into his Blood. The first miracle made wine from water and now at the end of his life he is changing the wine into himself. Jesus always gives us the best wine. My father used to have two bottles at Christmas and holidays at the table. One was for the family and the second was for people just stopping by. Christ is more generous. He gives all of us the best wine.
Jesus calls her “Woman” in this gospel, which is unusual for a son to use this word. The only other time he uses that word is on the cross. There he says to John and to all of us: Woman, behold your son! She is able to see all men through her Son. She holds all of us close to her heart, especially those who are most in pain.
Mary is a figure of the Church. She is the New Eve, the mother of all the living. Let us stay close to her and take advantage of this time to see Jesus in our life. And to hear the words she said to the servant: do whatever he tells you.