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SUNDAY ANGELUS
The wedding in Cana
was the third of Jesus's
'epiphany trilogy'
January 20, 2012
Reflecting on today's Gospel reading about the wedding in Cana, before leading the recitation of the Angelus prayers in St. Peter's Square at noon Sunday, the Holy Father said it completed the trio of events manifesting Jesus's epiphany to the world, following the celebration of his birth - namely, the visit of the Magi, his baptism on the Jordan, and the first miracle he performed in public.
He also spoke of the current Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, saying the continuing division among Christians remains one of
the worst circumstances defacing the image of the Church. He asked the faithful to continue praying for Christian unity as well as for peace in our day, that dialog and negotiations may take the place
of armed conflict.
In English, he said: "These days, we are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Let us join our prayers to those of our brothers and sisters of all Churches and communities, that we may dedicate ourselves ever more earnestly to working towards our visible unity in Jesus Christ. God bless you and your loved ones!"
Dear brothers and sisters!
Today the liturgy offers the Gospel of the wedding in Cana, an episode narrated by John, who was an eyewitness to the event.
This episode has been assigned for this Sunday which immediately follows the Christmas season because, together with the visit of the Magi from the East and the Baptism of Jesus, it forms the trilogy of the epiphany, or the manifestation of Christ to the world.
What happened at the wedding in Cana was, in fact, 'the beginning of his signs' (Jn 2,11), - the first miracle performed by Jesus, through which he manifested his glory in public. inspiring the faith of his disciples.
Let us briefly recall what happened during that wedding feast in Cana, in Galilee. It turned out that the party had run out of wine, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, called her Son's attention to this. He replied that "my hour has not yet come".
And yet, he follows Mary's soiicitation and, having asked for six large jars to be filled with water, changed the water into wine, an excellent wine that was better than what was served earlier.
With this 'sign', Jesus revealed himself to be the messianic Spouse, who had come to establish with his people the new and eternal Covenant - according to the words of the Prophets, "As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you" (Is 62,10).
Wine is the symbol of this joy of love, but it also alludes to the blood that Jesus would shed in the end to seal his nuptial pact with mankind.
The Church is the Spouse of Christ, who makes her holy and beautiful with his grace. But this spouse, who is made up of human beings, is always in need of purification.
And one of the most serious blows that have disfigured the face of the Church is that against her visible unity, especially the historic divisions which have separated Christians and which have yet to be overcome.
Precisely these days, from January 18-25, we mark the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a time that is always gratifying to believers and to all Christian communities, and which awakens in everyone the desire and the spiritual commitment for full communion.
In this sense, the prayer vigil that I was able to celebrate a month ago, in this Piazza, with thousands of young people from all over Europe, and with the ecumenical community of Taize, was very significan. It was a moment of grace during which we experienced the beauty of being, in Christ, one single entity.
I encourage everyone to pray together so that we may realize "what the Lord requires of us"'/G], (cfr Mic 6,6-8) which is the theme this year for this week of Christian unity. It was proposed by some Christian communities in India, and invites us all to walk together decisively towards visible unity among all Christians, and to overcome, as brothers in Christ, every kind of unjust discrimination.
Next Friday, at the end of these days of prayer, I will preside at Vespers in the Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls, in the presence of representatives from all the Christian churches and ecclesial communities.
Dear friends, to the Prayer for Christian Unity, I wish to add once more an appeal to pray for peace, so that in the various conflicts that are unfortunately taking place, the massacre of helpless civilians may cease, every violence may end, and the courage may be found for dialog and negotiations.
For both these intentions, let us invoke the intercession of the Most Blessed Mary, Mediatrix of grace.