DIVINE PRESENCE
IN ORDINARY REALITY
The readings for this Sunday remind us of God’s eternal relationship of love for His people. The imagery of a wedding as a symbol of that everlasting bond is evidently used in the readings.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Isaiah gives a poetic picture of how the Jewish people will be delivered from their bondage and sufferings. God delights in His people and the intimacy of that love is compared to the way that a bridegroom rejoices in His bride.
The church of Corinth, as mentioned in the 2nd Reading, learns how God’s Spirit of love is at work in each of them and in very different ways. There are many gifts and talents in the community but they are united by one Spirit. St. Paul would later teach the Corinthians that Christ is married to the Church.
The Gospel passage sets the scene for the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Although the scene is a wedding, the imagery is not of Jesus as bridegroom but as a guest who brings new wine to the wedding feast. Later He will become the Bridegroom who rejoices in His bride, the Church.
Jesus was asked to do something to address the awkward situation that the absence of wine at a wedding feast in Cana would create. Wine is necessary for any wedding feast because it expresses the abundance of the banquet and the joy of the feast. When the mother of Jesus brought to His attention that the wine was running out, Jesus performed His first miracle. He turned water into the best wine.
What a loving and lavish response to a human need! This is a vision for us of the abundance of God’s Kingdom. It challenges us therefore to respond generously when confronted with human needs. We respond the best we can and fully confident that God will eventually transform our efforts. St. Francis of Assisi said: “Just do what is necessary, then do what is possible, and you will find doing the impossible.”
What really happened in the wedding at Cana is a revelation of God’s presence among His people. The wedding of Cana is much more than a simple story about Jesus’ miracle. This has revealed Jesus’ glory toward His disciples and has strengthen their belief.
The servants who acted in faith what Jesus told them became immediate witnesses to the miracle. Those who are prepared to act in faith are the ones who really see miracles, seeing them as disclosure of the divine presence in ordinary reality.
We are therefore challenged to be drawn closer into a deeper relationship with God who always rejoices in each of us. Let us continue to commit ourselves in serving Him, listening to His Word and putting it into practice. This is the simple yet essential recommendation of the Mother of Jesus, and our Mother too. This is the program of our Christian Life.
Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen. In our ordinary life, miracles do happen…in faith!
Fr. Jong Atinaja, Jr.
