We move this Sunday into what the Church calls Ordinary Time. After the
extraordinary celebrations of Advent and Christmas – where the vestments
went from violet to white and even gold – we’re back to green. Ordinary
old green. But since green is the color of growth and of hope, maybe
it’s really not so ordinary after all!
And there’s certainly nothing ordinary about that gospel story we just
heard, is there! Water becoming wine – gallons upon gallons of wine –
and not just any old wine, we’re told, but “the best wine,” the very
best wine, the kind that is normally served up front but which in this
case didn’t make its appearance until quite late in the party.
So, not so ordinary at all – especially when we reflect on the fact that
the miracle at Cana – what John in his gospel calls the very first of
Jesus’ wondrous “signs” – the miracle at Cana was regarded from the
earliest days of the Church as an integral part – part three - of the
great feast of Epiphany. Part One was the Visit of the Magi when Christ
was manifested as the light for all peoples and nations, not just the
’Chosen Few’; and Epiphany Part Two was what we celebrated last Sunday –
Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan where he was manifested as the Beloved
Son in whom the Father was well pleased. And then we come to today -
part three of the great Epiphany – another amazing manifestation where
we find Jesus at a very human moment - the celebration of a wedding, and
a potentially very embarrassing moment because the wine had run out - we
find him revealing his glory, and his disciples believing in him. How
could they not?
It’s worth observing that parts one and two of the Epiphany are things
that happened to Jesus. The Magi came from afar to visit him and offer
their gifts; and John baptized him with his baptism of water and
repentance. But at this third Epiphany Jesus was in charge. Very much in
charge. His mother may have called his attention to the problem of the
wine running out, but he was the one who, however reluctantly, stepped
forward and caused six large containers of ordinary old water to become
this choice, rich vintage. In doing so, he not only revealed his glory,
he also prepared people for wonders yet to come when other quite amazing
things would happen: things like the lame walking, the blind seeing, the
dead coming to life, a few loaves and fish becoming food for a great
multitude, and simple bread and wine becoming his own Body and Blood.
Epiphanies each one of them, and each a revelation of his glory.
My friends, at the beginning of this New Year - fresh in the glow of the
Christ of the Magi and the Christ in the waters of the Jordan - at the
beginning of this new year, we have come together to celebrate Eucharist
and as we do, we get to experience yet one more Epiphany. It’s as if the
first two were not quite enough! The Christ of the Magi was an
eye-opener and a mind-stretcher, for sure, and the Christ of the Baptism
caused the very heavens to be opened up and God’s voice to be heard. But
the great sign of Christ changing water into wine at the Cana wedding
feast was unique because of the way that it revealed – in this most
human of moments - the glory that belonged to Jesus as God’s own son in
our human flesh.
The
glory of Jesus! That’s what we celebrate today. Think of the miracle at
Cana as a hint, a foretaste, a foreshadowing of the glory that would be
fully revealed in his saving passion, death, and resurrection. That’s
when his “hour” that had “not yet come” would finally have come!
Back to Ordinary Time. This particular year, our companion and guide
through what the Church calls Ordinary Time will be St. Luke, the writer
of the third gospel. On the Sundays to come, Luke will paint for us a
compelling picture of the healing Christ, the compassionate Christ, the
merciful Christ. He will do this with stories and parables that we find
in none of the other three gospels and, and in doing so, he will turn
Ordinary Time into something quite extraordinary. So, stay tuned!
And now, in a departure from the ordinary, I’m going to invite you to
stand and sing a familiar hymn that beautifully brings together and
celebrates all three facets of the great Epiphany story. You’ll find the
hymn in your order of celebration. Please stand.
Father Michael G. Ryan
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