Introduction The feast of the Baptism of the Lord gave us the Good News that Jesus won for us the gift of being aware of the Gift. The Gift that God gives freely is God in His own self and God IS LOVE. It is always sensible to become critically conscious of the image of God currently prevailing in our hearts. Does it give us the desire to respond in the words of the Entrance Antiphon?
Entrance Antiphon May all the earth give you worship and praise, and break into song to your name, O God, Most High.
The First Proclamation For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. Nations shall behold your vindication, and all kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the Lord. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall men call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,” But you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.
Prayerful Awareness How wonderful it is to read such a prophecy revealing to us how much the Lord God is enamored with such insignificant creatures as us. He fights as “our advocate for our vindication.” He rejoices in us. He then eradicates the derogatory names “Forsaken” and “Desolate,” with which we have been branded and renames us “My Delight,” and “espoused”. Does He stop there? No, He the One who has given us life, our builder, promises to marry us. His desire is to make us His own in a covenant relationship. Let us gaze at Jesus, who comes to realize the dream of His Father..
The Gospel Proclamation On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (And) Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. After this, he and his mother, (his) brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and stayed there only a few days.
Gaze at Jesus Bible scholars tell us that mention of the “third day” is in relation to the resurrection day of the Lord. Though the Lord is at the wedding at Cana as a guest He would have been in constant intimate fellowship with His Father. The Father in the course of the dialogue with His Son would have revealed His desire to have the biggest party ever on the day of His Son’s wedding. So when His Blessed Mother came and informed Him of the shortage of wine, Jesus was thinking of His wedding feast (of the Lamb of God). So He tells His Mother “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” In other words: “This is not my wedding for you to be so concerned, the time for my wedding has not yet come”. While saying this He is again with the Father asking Him “how will my wedding feast go?” Jesus who did all things according to the Father’s will would surely have heard Him say: “Tell the servants to fill the jars with water and I shall show you what your wedding feast would be like”. It is reported in the Gospel proclamation that Jesus did this as the beginning of His signs. What He began here Jesus continues till the total gifting of Himself to us His bride on the cross. The following proclamation describes the gift.
The Second Proclamation There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.
Our Sonship The Christian community is the Bride of Christ. In the Letter to the Ephesians this “marriage” is linked to human marriage, of which it is a model. The Lord who is our Bridegroom gives us the greatest wedding gift that He can give. The Gift is His own Spirit of divine Sonship. Jesus wants very earnestly to be one with us. We must ask ourselves whether the gifts we received ritually in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation have been claimed by us as our own. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12). We all have been endowed with unique gifts. And these gifts are not just for me or my family. They are to nurture and build up the family of the whole Christian community: the bride of Christ.
Prayer Starter Lord Holy Spirit! Grant us the gift of celebration, the celebration of who we are; the bride of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ
