SECOND ORDINARY SUNDAY
(Isaiah 62:1-5; I Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11)
The gospel today is known, appreciated and unique. We do not have any other story of Jesus attending weddings, much less with his disciples and his mother. It is open to different interpretations. Some understand it as fixed on Mary as the great intercessor for all our needs. Others see it as a testimony of Jesus as a regular person who enjoys parties. Still others take advantage of the story to explore the religious dimensions of marriage. I would like to propose another way of reading this gospel. It is about marriage, but not in the sense of instructions for married people. Rather, it is about the marriage between God and his people or, for us Christians, the union between Christ and the Church. This seems to be the interpretation of the Church when it is linked to the reading from the prophet Isaiah.
The first reading comes from the third part of the Book of the Prophet. The context of the reading is Jerusalem shortly after the return of its exiles from Babylon. They have experienced the most serious trauma in their history to date. The entire city had been devastated along with the destruction of the Temple. Thousands of people were killed and thousands more deported. It seemed at the time that God had abandoned his people forever. But the prophet resists this conclusion. He says that the Lord loves his people and now, purified by suffering, promises to marry them forever. He assures his readers that once again Israel will shine with justice and manifest salvation.
The Gospel of John presents the fulfillment of this promise. Conveniently, it takes place in the context of a wedding. Jesus is there with his disciples and his mother. Mary can be said to serve as a matchmaker bringing Jesus to the people. Although the time to show the fullness of his love for the people has not yet come, Jesus now gives them a hint of this love. He turns the six jars of water into wine so that everyone is not only satisfied with its spirit but amazed at its quality.
To understand the meaning of the story, we have to be aware of the symbolism it carries. The lack of wine is a way of saying that the relationship between God and his people lacks vitality. Judaism has become formalistic with many rules but little holiness. The jars of water, which were used for purification rites, represent the meager efficacy of the law. Therefore, God has sent his Son to rectify the situation. The water turned into wine has two references. On one hand it represents the transformation from emptiness to joy that the people experience with the presence of God in their midst. Elsewhere, wine symbolizes the blood of Jesus that is to be shed for the salvation of the world.
In our time, many of us feel perplexed by the changes that are affecting us with increasing speed. Older people mourn the loss of virtues such as humility, chastity, and religiosity itself. Young people anguish over basic questions such as pursuing a career or having a family. Adults worry whether their resources will be sufficient to satisfy their hopes and desires. How will we proceed forward?
The answer the gospel offers is to hold firmly to Jesus. Since the last words say that “his disciples believed in him,” we should not withdraw our trust. By participation in the Eucharist, practicing Christian values, and collaborating with the community we can navigate our lives to the serenity we long for. He who changed water into wine will transform our anxieties into peace.
