Birth, Magi, Baptism, and Miracle of Cana
Lawrence Gerard Fox
Completed Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) on June 12, 2021 (Magna Cum Laude), International Theological Institute, Austria. Living in Texas.
Today's Office of Reading (2nd Reading) was taken from Sermon 160, written by St. Peter Chrysologus (380-450 AD), and ordained as Bishop of Ravenna-Cervia, Italy.
The saintly Bishop's homily for today's feast (Epiphany) touches upon Jesus' birth, the visit of the Magi, Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan, and the miracle at Cana (the first of Jesus' signs).
The following excerpt from his sermon touches upon the miracle of Cana which prefigures the Eucharist:
Today Christ gives the beginning of signs from heaven, when he changes the water into wine. But water was to be changed into the mystery of the blood, so that Christ from the goblet of His body, might give pure draughts to those who drink, to fulfill that saying of the prophet: 'My chalice which inebriates me, how good it is.' (cf. Sermon 160; Divine Office 2nd Reading Monday, January 6th, 2025)
The reference to the chalice is taken from Psalm 22(23) "The Lord is my Shepherd" verse 5.
What is most touching is the manner in which the Saintly Bishop poetically anticipates the ultimate intention behind the miracle at Cana. He seems to observe and hear the members of Christ's Mystical Body pleading with Christ during the Cana event:
Jesus Christ our groom, do not give us simply the best of earthly wine at our wedding feast, but rather give to us the miraculous and supernatural gift of your body and blood. Let us be truly united to you as one flesh and blood.
It is a reminder that our participation in the most Holy Eucharist is a participation in the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb. (cf. Revelation 19:9)