A Short Sunday Sermon

 

We celebrate the second Sunday of Epiphany today and with it the first of our Lord's signs, the miracle of turning water into wine at the marriage feast in Cana. How is this an epiphany? Most obviously, in that it demonstrates Christ's divine power. He can change water to wine and I cannot, which is doubtless a very good thing, but let's go a bit deeper. Per Benedict XVI:

Let us briefly recall the events that occurred during that wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. It happened that there was not enough wine and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, pointed this out to her Son. He answered her that his hour had not yet come; but then acquiesced to Mary’s request and, having had the six large jars filled with water, he transformed the water into wine, an excellent wine, better than the previous one. With this “sign” Jesus revealed himself as the messianic Bridegroom come to establish with his people the new and eternal covenant, in accordance with the prophets’ words: “as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Is 62:5). Moreover, wine is a symbol of this joy of love; but it also alludes to the blood that Jesus was to pour out at the end to seal his nuptial pact with humanity.

 

It also alludes to the blood that Jesus was to pour out at the end to seal his nuptial pact with humanity. Yes, the blood of the new Covenant, shed for us on Calvary for the remission of sins. This is prefigured in the miraculous wine at Cana and made present at the Last Supper, and in the Sacrament of the Altar through which we find union with Christ as a bride to a groom. 

New wine which flows from the purifying, enlivening water of Baptism, undergirded and held by stone, the rock of faith. All this in fulfillment of the six ages of prophecy: Adam to Noah, Noah to Abraham, Abraham to David, David to the Exile, the Exile to John the Baptist, and John the Baptist to the end of the world. (Augustine)

Wine which is given to us by Christ in the Mass as we kneel to make our communion with Him. A miraculous communion that is a participation in and foretaste of the heavenly banquet, the marriage feast of the Lamb in paradise. All this prefigured at Cana.

Rejoice in that and give God the glory who has given us so great a gift, His blood shed for us for the forgiveness of sins and our union with Christ to eternal life.

Bless You All,

LSP

A Short Sunday Sermon

 

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," says John the Baptist of Christ. And so he is, the true Paschal Lamb, the definitive savior of God's people, whose blood shed on the cross in sinless sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin opens the gates of heaven to all who put their faith in him. Here indeed is a light to the nations who extends salvation to the ends of the earth.

Yes, the mystery of the cross and resurrection prefigured in the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan is now stated, but John doesn't stop there. The next day we see him standing with two of his disciples and as Jesus approaches he salutes him again, "Behold the Lamb of God!" The disciples then follow Jesus who turns to them and asks, "What seek ye?" They reply, "Where dwellest thou?" And he invites them to "come and see." They do, and stay with him that day. (Jn 1: 29-41)

Christ asks the same question of us, "What seek ye?" what are you after, what do you want? There's only one true answer, the soul finds no peace until it rests in the beatitude of God and this forces another question, where is he, the Paschal Lamb, to be found, where does he live?

Upon his throne of glory in heaven, for sure, and on earth? In his living Word, in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar and in the hearts of his faithful people. He lives in his body the Church, in which we find union with his sacrifice, the forgiveness of sins and a share in his risen life.

Be strong in that and confess with John's disciples, "We have found the Messiah."

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that thy people, illumined by thy Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

God bless,

LSP