2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

January 18, 2004

Although the Christmas season officially ended last Sunday, and most of the festive decorations have been put away, we return to the stark reality of what the Liturgy calls: "Ordinary Time."

The first reading from Isaiah speaks of the Jewish refugees returning from exile in Babylon, (today called Iraq). The sight of Jerusalem in rubble, what had been God’s holy city, left them feeling devastated.

The prophet speaks to reassure them that God will reclaim Jerusalem and her people as a groom claims a bride. God is covenanted with his people like the nuptials of a bride and groom.

In today’s gospel, which occurs only in the year of the "C" cycle, we find the account of Jesus at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. As I said previously, though the Christmas season is ended, this event is often referred to as the third epiphany or revelation. Here we find Jesus working his first "sign" or miracle, at the request of his mother.

There are other hidden signs. The water jars are made of stone, they are for the ritual ablutions, or washings, but they are empty. These ritual ablutions have no more relevance in the New Covenant. There is one and only one ablution, Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus orders them filled with water, not to wash, but to drink. That in itself was enough to raise a few eye-brows. What does he think He is doing? Who does He think He is?

He is no longer the carpenter’s son, but the Son of God; a new mission. A new day is dawned. But the hour refers to his death, the rejection and agony that will precede it. It is only just begun. When he leaves for Nazareth, he will be literally run out of town by his former friends and family. But now is not a time to dwell on that; it is a time to celebrate.

When they taste the water changed to wine, they are amazed; filled with wonder, just like the astrologers in Bethlehem, the first disciples at the Jordan, and countless thousands in the past 2,000 years.

Today’s gospel gives us signs to recognize who Jesus is. They give us insight into what the nuptials between God and human kind involve. Like drawn water, like Israel, like Mary, we too can recognize our Creator and Redeemer. When all seems dark and destitute, we can sing new songs and find new spark to life. We are God’s delight and we can know ourselves anew. This is a far greater miracle than turning water into wine.

Jesus changed water into wine. Later he would change wine into His Blood. At every Mass he repeats that miracle. But there is another prayer, which is said at every Mass, whose significance might well be overlooked. As the priest adds a drop of water, signifying our Baptism, our sharing in the sacrifice, which is about to take place, he says, "By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity."

That is truly awesome, wonderful. There are, as Paul tells us, many gifts, ministries, charisms, yet, all are called to share in some way in the divinity of Christ. Like a thousand points of light or a million drops of water, each one of us is bonded like the bride and groom, like the water and wine, inseparable and empowered through Him to live and to act as children of God with love and without fear.

Of course, if we only see things with our physical eyes, if we only are able to see the expected, we will never see with the eyes of the soul and we will never be able to wonder. So look with the eyes not merely in the head, but look with the eyes of the soul, and you might see someone walking on water, one of these days. Amen.,