One of the most beautiful gifts that Blessed John Paul the Great left us was the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.
Tonight as I was meditating on the Wedding Feast at Cana, I could see the scene playing out like a movie, or a memory. The guests joyfully sharing stories making a cacophony of sounds. Servers busy bringing trays of food, others refilling cups. The families of the happy couple co-mingling and welcoming their respective friends and families. The Rabbi at a place of honor, nodding sagely at comments in his vicinity. There is music, and dancing and laughter. Our lady notices a whispered conversation between the servants and the somber look on the face of the head waiter. Coming closer she comes to understand the dilemma. The wine has run out and this is a tremendous blow to the honor of the family. Her caring heart wants to help and she turns to her son.
What a wonderful, normal scene. It could have been a day in anyone's life. A happy day with family and friends. Then the extraordinary happens.
Jesus takes the large jars used for the Jewish ritual washing and he makes the finest tasting wine out of the water. Ordinary water becomes the choicest of wines.
The bible consistently shows prefigurement from the old testament to the new. From the old covenant to the new covenant.
In Genesis, God saves his people with the blood of the lamb. Smearing the blood on the door jam signified that you were one of God's chosen people and the angel of death passed-over that home, doing no harm.
Jesus is the Lamb of God and his blood washes us clean of our sins so that death will be but a gateway to everlasting life and does us no harm. I was struck with the fact that the jars of water that Jesus turned into wine were WASHING JARS. He turns wine into HIS cleansing blood at the passover (last) supper, that washes us of our sins. From washing jars of water to wine, to the blood of the lamb of God that washes us of our sins. The tremendous poetry of this struck me to the heart today.
What amazing symmetry is found in each book of the bible? Things like this occur to me all the time as I read scripture or meditate on the mysteries of the rosary. Our religion brings these truths out at every mass as it goes from old testament to new in the readings. And then of course the psalm reading that also emphasizes the central theme of the day.
Thank you God for the amazing love letter you wrote to your children! AND for the Magesterium of the church that puts it all together in a logical, cohesive manner.
Hello Holy People of God! I too love the Wedding at Cana story mainly because of Our Lady's words! It is the last time her words are recorded in the Gospels. She simply states "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn 2:5) She says this to the servants. I feel like she i stating this to me! In my times of doubt in trials, I am given encouragement and hope that Jesus will provide. Mary takes me by the hand, the servant, and states "Do whatever he tells you".
ReplyDeleteNotice that the scriptures do NOT state the servants had great faith......NO.....Our Lady had faith for all the servants that her son will provide!!!! Jesus even states "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." HA! Mary KNEW her son would come through, so she turned to the servants and stated "DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU".
With great confidence I proclaim, 'O'Virgin Mary conceived without sin, pray for us'.
What beautiful imagery on the Luminous Mystery- Wedding at Cana! This imagery makes the mystery come alive when praying the rosary, as often times it is a struggle to meditate upon the mysteries. Yes, the correlation between the old testament & new testament- the cleansing" Blood of the Lamb"/ Washing Jars- Pure Love of our Father!
ReplyDeleteJP11 was Our Pope, "Pappa". He gave us many gifts that will continue to nourish our souls throughout time. Prayer Warrior Thank You for your most beautiful meditation!