9781644135945

The Light of the World
both are changed into the blood of Christ. So, too, all our labors, prayers, and sufferings, unless
they be mingled with those of Christ, are as worthless and meaningless as water. At the
Consecration of the Mass, the Lord renews the miracle of Cana. The water which was poured
into the chalice becomes with the wine the blood of Christ. Our rebellious wills, our wandering
thoughts, our puny labors, our distracted prayers, our meager sufferings, are consecrated and
become immensely precious in the eyes of God when united to those of Christ. They now bear
the mark of Christ. The Father recognizes in them the work of His divine Son. Because of this
union they are worthy to be offered to the Father in thanksgiving and adoration. Thus by the
sacred consecration we are able to unite our offerings, deeds, and prayers to the offerings, deeds,
and prayers of Christ. Thus begins the transformation of the earthly man into the heavenly man,
the eternally sanctified man.
One day we shall partake of the “good wine” in eternal union with our heavenly bridegroom,
Christ. While we are still on earth, the Mass is the beginning and guarantee of the
heavenly wedding feast. Christ’s manifestation of Himself at the heavenly Cana will be perfect
and eternal.
Meditation
The third manifestation of Christ’s divinity took place at the wedding feast in Cana, where Christ
changed water into wine. He “manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him” (Gospel).
After the epiphany in Bethlehem and at the Jordan, we witness the epiphany at Cana. The first
miracle in the life of Christ was inspired by the need of His friend, the poor bridegroom, and
performed at the request of Mary, His mother. The disciples who had gathered about Him were
today to catch a glimpse of the glory and power that were really His. For a moment His divinity
is revealed, and He exercises His almighty power, which had hitherto been concealed under
a humble exterior. “What He shall say to you, do ye,” the solicitous mother told the servants
of the bridegroom. Jesus told them to “fill the waterpots with water.” The servants thereupon
prepared six pots and filled them to the brim with water. Jesus drew near and commanded them:
“Draw out now and carry to the chief steward.” The steward tasted the water made wine, and
he was astonished. Whence came this wine? Quietly and without a word or gesture Christ had
changed the water into wine. Thus Jesus “manifested His glory.”
The liturgy recognizes in this miracle a figure of what the Church accomplishes in the Mass.
A more wonderful transubstantiation occurs daily at Mass in our churches: bread and wine
are changed into the body and blood of Christ. Like His disciples, we also are witnesses of His
divine power and majesty. We, too, believe in Him and follow Him with unfaltering confidence
and trust. “And we saw His glory, the glory as it were, of the only-begotten of the Father” ( Jn
1:14). “Let all the earth adore Thee, O God, and sing to Thee; let it sing a psalm to Thy name,
O Most High” (Introit).
“Thou hast kept the good wine until now,” the steward exclaimed when he met the bridegroom.
This was not the usual custom, for “every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when
men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now”
(Gospel). For the liturgy the “good wine” which has been saved until now is the Holy Eucharist.
It has been saved until now, that is, until the new dispensation, until the time of the mystical
wedding of Christ with His Church. Many precious gifts God gave to His Chosen People in the
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