‘Epiphany’ means manifestation, showing or revelation. We have just celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany and concluded the liturgical season of Epiphany. But, for us believers, Epiphany does not end until we, at last, see God face to face.
We could say that today’s Gospel (The Wedding at Cana) is like a 3rd Act in the celebration of the Epiphany. The 1st Act would be the story of the Wise men coming to Bethlehem and pointing us in the direction of the new-born King. They bow down in Adoration and offer gifts. They prompt us to do the same and to bring the Gold of our Faith and Love, the Frankincense of our adoration and praise and, with the gift of Myrrh, to unite our sufferings with those of the Lord.
The 2nd Act is on the banks of the Jordan where John the Baptist points to ‘The Lamb of God’. Disciples approach Jesus to ask him ‘where do you live?’ The Lord’s invitation is ‘Come and see’. He will reveal himself to them in a very intimate, personal way. The same invitation is given to us. ‘Come and know me in the silence of your personal prayer’.
The 3rd Act of Epiphany is, then, what happens at the Wedding at Cana in Galilee. Mary is the central character here and it is she who points to, reveals another aspect of the Lord to us: ‘Do whatever He tells you’. Part of knowing the Lord and being disciples of the Lord is doing what the Lord tells us.
During this liturgical year we read from the Gospel of Saint Mark on most Sundays. The Gospel of Saint John is often used to give emphasis to some important aspect of our Faith.
Saint John mentions the Mother of God on only two occasions in his Gospel. On both occasions he has Jesus call His Mother “Woman”. “Woman, my hour has not yet come” seems to us a little disrespectful and dismissive. But the other time that John has Jesus address His Mother is when she stands by His Cross: “Woman, behold your son”. By using ‘woman’ to address Mary, Jesus seems to be teaching all of us that this is not just His mother but she is ‘woman’, mother for all.
Today’s Gospel reading is full of symbols and symbolism. The term Wedding reminds us of earth being wedded to heaven by the coming of the Lord in Flesh; Water is for cleansing, purification and it becomes the wine of salvation; Wine is the drink of celebration – the Saviour has come among us!
Significant too is that Mary, our Mother, in revealing the Lord to us has given us only one instruction ever: “Do whatever He tells you”.