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
