(When Epiphany is celebrated on January 8th, when Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th, see #212, Monday following Epiphany)
(Optional Memorial for Saint Raymond of Penafort, Priest)
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| “Wedding Feast at |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 John 5:14-21
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:14-21
The concluding passage of St. John’s first letter begins by expressing the faith Christians have in prayers being heard. It moves immediately into the response of the community to those who have sinned, but not deadly sins. Given the main purpose of this letter, this probably refers to apostasy as a result of false teachers. In summarizing the themes St. John has dealt with in the letter, a contrast is drawn between the members of the community of faith (those “begotten by God”) and the secular world belonging to the Evil One. Those who are faithful to Jesus find eternal life in him. It ends rather awkwardly with one last exhortation to be on guard against idols, almost an afterthought.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:14 2778, 2827; 1 Jn 5:16-17 1854; 1 Jn 5:18-19 2852; 1 Jn 5:19 409; 1 Jn 5:20 217
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5 and 6a and 9b
R. (see 4 a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5 and 6a and 9b
Psalm 149 is a communal song of praise, rejoicing in God’s kingship and inviting the faithful to celebrate his saving works. We rejoice because God brings victory to the lowly and hope to the oppressed. The psalmist calls to the faithful to give praise in the assembly of the people – to give witness to their faith publicly – communally, as God’s chosen ones.
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Gospel: John 2:1-11
Commentary on Jn 2:1-11
St. John gives us the story of Jesus' first revelatory action following his Baptism by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan. He and his disciples are invited to a wedding and the wine runs out. Jesus’ mother lets her son know that the time has come for his revelation, even though Jesus does not think so.
Ironically the stone water jars were there for the ceremonial cleansing, the very Hebrew custom John the Baptist used in his call to repentance. The Hebrew custom was symbolic (as was St. John's invitation to be baptized in the Jordan); the Lord would later make Baptism efficacious as sins were forgiven. We also note the Hebrew Numerology applied to this scene. The number 6 represents one less than the perfect number 7. It was not yet Jesus’ time. The water became wine, not his blood which was yet to be poured out for the salvation of mankind.
The final statement in this story: “…his disciples began to believe in him,” is the only time in the Gospel of St. John where there was any doubt about the Lord’s true identity on their part.
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Reflection:
Today we celebrate the great wedding feast of the Church. We have heard in St. John’s Gospel the story of the Wedding at Cana, one of what have been called the “Wow” miracles of the Lord because it is so spectacular. Jesus, along with his disciples, had gone to Cana, to a wedding. While he was there, the host ran out of wine. It would be very embarrassing for the couple to have this happen so Jesus’ mother brings it to the Lord’s attention.
We see the Lord struggle with this. He tells his mother, “My hour has not yet come.” But she tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” She knows, somehow, that something remarkable is about to take place. The Lord then told the servants to bring six large stone jars, already filled with water (ironically these jars were to be used in a Hebrew rite, adapted by St. John the Baptist, to demonstrate repentance), and miraculously that water was transformed into wine.
It is sometimes difficult for us to look past the miracle to see all that this event can show us about Jesus’ mission and what we, as Church, inherit from it. We see the image of Jesus stepping out of time.
-He at once is the wine; his blood poured out for us.
-He is the groom who takes the church as his bride.
-He stands with our Priest as once more water and wine become his own Precious Blood; our salvation.
-And we have a part too. We stand as the servants who hear Mary say; “Do whatever he tells you.”
-We stand as the servants who know where that “best” wine came from and how it came to be in those stone jars.
-We know there were only six and not seven because it was not yet his time. (That time came later on a hill outside of Jerusalem.)
Is this just an ordinary sequence of events in the life of Jesus? What a wondrous gift he has given. And all he asks in return is our acceptance of that gift, accepting our role as the children of that marriage of the Lord and his Church.
Pax
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