As I was reading and reflecting on today’s gospel, the beautiful story of the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11), a few lines from Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium came to mind. In the first paragraph of the document Pope Francis wrote, “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” The source of joy’s enduring influence is “our personal certainty that when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved” (EG I.6).
Like the messages we hear on Gaudete and Laetare Sundays, the story of the Wedding at Cana reminds us that Christianity is a religion of joy. While this gospel reading often is associated with the Sacrament of Marriage it is also about the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of the Eucharist; new joy, new life and new wine. In all these aspects of the story, the overarching theme is God’s abundant love for us. God showed us that love by sending Jesus to establish a New Covenant. The “sign” Jesus performed at the Wedding is our first glimpse of how this New Covenant will look.
If you read the eleven verses of this gospel closely Jesus’ miracle is an extraordinarily generous gift. Rather than have the young couple embarrassed by running out of wine at their wedding feast, Jesus performed his first “sign” by producing over a hundred gallons of excellent wine in six massive jars that normally held between twenty to thirty gallons of water each. This was enough to provide refreshment to every person in Cana. By performing this sign, Jesus saved the day for the couple and according to John, “revealed his glory.” As a result the “disciples began to believe in him.” For the disciples and for us it is an epiphany.
The epiphany that happened at Cana provides us with a glimpse of the abundance in the Kingdom of God. Our challenge as citizens of the Kingdom is to respond to human need with the same generosity of spirit. When we “do whatever he tells” us, when we listen with open hearts, when we share God’s abundant love with others we too can transform our world and help to bring the Kingdom of God to fulfilment right here in Peachtree City.
Faithful and loving God,
your Son Jesus shared with ordinary people
in the joy of a marriage feast.
Draw us to the table and pour for us
the delightful wine of your covenant,
bring us close to you and to one another
and warm our hearts with your own love.
Help us become your faithful stewards,
ready to do whatever Jesus tells us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
