From pastor’s desk on the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C
Last week we celebrated the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord, which formally has concluded the Christmas season and started the Ordinary Time in the liturgy of the Church. Although we began the Ordinary Time, we continue the theme of God’s revelation to the world. So, this Sunday we hear about Jesus’ first miracle during a wedding at Cana, where our Lord changed water into wine. In the liturgy of the Church the Feast of the Epiphany (the Visitation of the Magi), the Baptism of the Lord, and the miracle at Cana stand together and are viewed as subsequent epiphanies, that is, the manifestations of the Divinity in Christ.
As we see in these three manifestations the Almighty God wants to be known and revealed to humanity in many ways, but all these ways eventually lead to Christ, the Son of God, and Son of Mary. In the first epiphany, God manifested Himself through the Sacred Scripture and visible signs, which the Magi read and followed. Because of their humility and persistence, the Magi were able to find the way until they came to see Christ in the manger in Bethlehem. The Magi are the wise men because they seek not the wisdom of the world but Wisdom coming from above; they are the real scientists, who want to know the truth. Upon seeing the little baby Jesus in the manger, they find “the Truth and the Way and the Life” in God promised to all peoples and fulfilled in Christ. In the second epiphany, it is John the Baptist, the Herald of the Messiah, who points to Christ, who entered the river Jordan together with other people coming for baptism of repentance. John inspired by the Holy Spirit has the light of faith that enables him to see the coming of the Anointed One, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” It is Jesus of Nazareth the humble servant coming to be baptized with all the sinners, who manifests Himself as the Beloved Son of God. At that event by the bank the Jordan River we also hear the voice of the Father confirming the Divinity and mission of Jesus, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The third epiphany takes place at a wedding, at which “the mother of Jesus was there” too. It was the Blessed Mother that noticed the need of the newly wed couple: they had no wine, which was a serious offense to the guests. It was Mary who asked Her Divine Son to help them, but also to make Jesus reveal His identity and mission. At that very moment Christ manifested the powered of God acting in Him. In a sense He gave them a glimpse of His Divinity. God is truly with His people and now is preparing a Divine Feast promised by the prophets: “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wine” (Isaiah 25:6).
While meditating upon these Scripture passages, let us remember that God wants to be with us, but we must allow Him to be part of our life. We need to make a choice to come to know Christ and to be with God. We need to pray fervently and unceasingly so that that we may recognize the coming of the Lord to our lives too.
I wish you all a blessed week,
Fr. Janusz Mocarski, Pastor