My dear parishioners,
Peace! The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the “prayer of the rosary” as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours in the Western Church (§ 2678). In praying the rosary we “meditate on the mysteries of Christ” engaging our “thought, imagination, emotion, and desire” leading not only to “knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus” but “union with Him” (§ 2708). In fact the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an “epitome of the whole Gospel” and is also an expression of “devotion to the Virgin Mary” (§ 971). Saint John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (16 October, 2002) proposed that we join to the classic fifteen mysteries contemplating the infancy, passion and resurrection of Christ the Lord, Mysteries of Light which highlight His public life on Earth (RVM, 21). Here we consider the second of the Luminous Mysteries, the Wedding Feast of Cana.
In the Sacred Liturgy the Wedding Feast of Cana is currently found every third year (C) on the Second Sunday of the Church year, following the Baptism of the Lord which concludes the Christmas season. For millennia the Wedding Feast of Cana was read each year on the Second Sunday after Epiphany.
In Sacred Scripture we read about the Wedding Feast at Cana in John 2:1-12. The modern day town of Kafr Kanna northeast of Nazareth has been identified with the site of this first sign or miracle of the Lord. The Lord Jesus changing water into wine at Cana prepares for what He will do at the Last Supper when He changes bread and wine into His very self at the First Eucharist, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. The Lord God did not change the water into grape juice, all apologies to Welch’s©. While 180 gallons (6 jars of 30 gallons) is a lot of wine, the Lord was not encouraging debauchery. He did not drink it all Himself. Wedding feasts in those days would go on for days. Faithfulness in Holy Marriage and faithfulness to Christ the Bridegroom prepares the soul for the wedding feast without end in Heaven (cf. Revelation 19:9). The Lord”s working this miraculous sign at the request of His Blessed Mother should not be lost on us. She interceded for the couple in their need then, so she is able and willing to intercede for us in our needs. While the hour of the Lord’s Passion had not yet come, the hour for Him to manifest His power and glory had come.
Among the multiple fruits of the Mystery of the Wedding Feast of Cana, the following should be considered. Devotion to Holy Marriage could be a good start. Praying for those who are preparing for Holy Marriage could be another worthwhile intention. Giving thanks to God for those who are thriving in Holy Marriage would be another worthwhile fruit, as would be interceding for those who are struggling in Holy Marriage.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr