Salutations! How are you? I hope that your day is good and you are well. As a Catholic Christian family we’re officially back in the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. That means that we’ll be seeing lots of green vestments until the start of the Lenten season on March 6. Before going too far into the ordinary rhythm of our liturgical lives it’s worthwhile to take a look back at one of the previous celebrations, namely Epiphany.
There was a time within our Roman Catholic customs and traditions that January 6 was more than just a day to commemorate the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. In fact, for several centuries it was a time to also reflect upon the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River and the Wedding Feast at Cana. Each of those moments was an epiphany or a divine “manifestation” (
etymonline.com/word/epiphany)
. While t
hey were originally united in a common celebration, over the course of time there would be a parsing out of those epiphany moments.
As it is now the celebration of Epiphany takes place in most countries on January 6 or the Sunday closest to it. The following Sunday is then traditionally the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Then it is only during Year C after the Baptism of the Lord that the Gospel of the Wedding Feast at Cana is proclaimed for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first miracle that Jesus performed isn’t even formally celebrated as a liturgical feast day - it’s an event which we hear about once every three years! Given the important place of marriage in God’s Plan of salvation I wouldn’t be surprised if someday, maybe even within our lifetime, that this remarkable occasion would be raised up once again as liturgical celebration.
The passage about the wedding at Cana is only found in Chapter Two of the Gospel according to Saint John. There is so much theological depth and symbolism and profound significance from the first sign or miracle that Jesus performed in public. For this reason it is fitting that Saint John Paul II included the Wedding Feast at Cana for prayerful pondering as the Second Luminous Mystery of the Rosary. For your own spiritual edification I would encourage you to read through and pray with John 2:1-11 in the coming days.
If you are able to attend Mass on Saturday evening or Sunday you’ll have the opportunity to hear some reflective ruminations during the homily about this beautiful moment in the life of Christ. May it be help to illuminate our relationship with Jesus and Our Blessed Mother, deepen our understanding of the Sacraments of Marriage as well as the Eucharist, and widen our appreciation for God’s Providential care of us.
