WEDDING AT CANA - A JOY OF SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY OF THE WORLD: Is 62:1-5; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11 (C 2)

 

 WEDDING AT CANA -  A JOY OF SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY OF THE WORLD

 

Is 62:1-5; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11 (C  2)

Blessed are your eyes, for they see (Divine Office)

 

There are signs and symbols in the Bible like miracles, feasts of weddings, and ‘vine and branches’ to describe God’s salvation. John the Evangelist understands signs as gestures pointing toward something beyond what our eyes cannot see. He presents Jesus as to re-interpret and fulfill Yahweh’s promise to Israel. The sign of ‘changing water into wine’ at Cana, brings us the saving transformation of Jesus. It happened at a wedding party as a symbol of love. This is the best image of the Biblical tradition to express the definitive communion of God with us. Jesus’ salvation must be lived and offered by his followers as a party when life seems emptied or weird. In the Old Testament ‘wine’ is seen as a gift and blessing of God (Dt 7:13; Prov 3:10, Ps 105). The salvation that Jesus brings us renews our faith in life.

 

Many people today do not find the Church’s ministry life-giving. Liturgical celebration seems to be boring to them. The Church invites us to see the signs and symbols that are more life-affirming to discover Jesus’ capacity to alleviate the suffering and cruelties of life. Who does want to listen to something that does not seem to be joyful news, especially if the Gospel is preached with a cautious tone? Jesus Christ came to provide a power to love, a reason to exist, a lifestyle to live sensitively and joyfully. If people today only know a theoretical religion and can’t cherish the beauty of the love of God many will continue to stay away.

 

At the wedding feast, the water could be tasted as wine, only when it was ‘drawn out’ the water used by the Jews for their purifications. The religion of the law written on stone tablets seems to be worn out for some, today! They feel it has no living water capable of purifying and satisfying human needs.  But the letter of the law is replaced by the spirit of the law (2 Cor 3:6). The religion needs to be freed by the love and the life that Jesus communicates. To communicate the transforming love of Jesus, just talking is not enough. Gestures of service and condemning evil are also needed.

 

We need to make Jesus’ joyful style our own. I am happy about our Church, a place of joy and celebration, where people can feel welcomed, as at the wedding in Cana. Striving to progressively know and love more deeply his human nature, let us draw closer to the humanity of Jesus by listening to his word, and growing in faith and trust guided by the Holy Spirit until we see in him the face of the Father. Let us enjoy the divine presence of the Triune God in his plan for the sacrament of the matrimony of the world.

 

Blessed are your ears, for they hear (Divine Office)