THE PREPARATION OF THE BRIDE


SUNDAY, SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Isa 62:1-5; Ps 96:1-3,7-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11

Building up the Bride of the Lamb

The dwelling of the Messiah among his people is comparable to the relationship between the groom and bride. John the Baptist referred to the Lamb as the groom, the coming of whom the bride awaits. He saw himself as a friend of the groom who was happy hearing his voice. Today's readings bring this wedding image to our minds again, leading us to consider the love of God for his people as comparable to the love between a groom and his bride. The prophet Isaiah foretells Yahweh’s restoration of Jerusalem and betrothal. The reading is about the wonder of God’s love that he would reveal in the Messianic era—the outpouring of God’s love, which would make his people dance for joy in his presence. Yahweh will come and reveal his glory over Jerusalem and make her attract the admiration of all nations. “The nations then will see your integrity, all the kings your glory, and you will be called by a new name, one which the mouth of the Lord will confer. You are to be a crown of splendour in the hand of the Lord, a princely diadem in the hand of your God.” Yahweh will reveal his presence in Jerusalem in such a way that will leave no one in doubt of his love for his people and his intention to enter into everlasting communion with them. “Like a young man marrying a virgin, so will the one who built you wed you, and as the bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so will your God rejoice in you.”

The prophecy of Isaiah is an apt description of what God, through his Son, accomplished in the life of his people. The mission of the Son of Man among the people of God was to build them up into a delight for his wedding. He works among them to purify and prepare them for their communion with God. If we consider the whole of humanity as the domain of the interest of God, and not just the people of Israel, then we understand the Incarnation of the Son of God as the manifestation of the interest. Though the Son of Man testified to having been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, The Father sent him also to all peoples and nations. It is from the peoples and nations that he will build up the new Jerusalem that would be his bride. In this regard, even though he appeared among the people of Israel first before extending his love and presence to other peoples and nations, it was to fulfil the promise made to their ancestors long ago of the blessings meant for all peoples of faith in God. The gift of faith given to all is the only qualification for entering the new Jerusalem. Whoever believes in the divinity of the Son in his human nature receives the glory of God in the form of his Holy Spirit, through whom God incorporates us into the Body of Jesus Christ.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all who believe in the name of Jesus Christ was a key feature that John the Baptist used to introduce the Lamb to Israel. The One coming after him who ranks before him is the one who will baptise with water and the Holy Spirit and not with water alone. The miracle at Cana in Galilee was the first sign he did, a pointer to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The new wine is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. So, Christ's production of new wine in abundance indicated the Holy Spirit he would pour out on all believers invited to the wedding of the Lamb. Significantly, he worked the sign at the prompting of Mary, his mother; it shows her solicitude for the Church, the bride of her Son. “When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said ‘Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’”

The sign of human salvation was presented to us anew in this miracle--the Woman and her child--just as the work of salvation starts with the ministry of Jesus Christ. The ministry consists of filling the human jar with clean water. That is true repentance, which will receive the heavenly outpouring of the Holy Spirit to become containers of new wine. The first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians speaks of the human containers of the new wine of salvation. From those who repent of their sins and confess faith in Jesus Christ, the new wine of spiritual gifts issued forth to sanctify the world. “There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them.” The presence of the Holy Spirit within the Church extends the work of Jesus Christ in the building of the new Jerusalem for the coming wedding celebration of the Lamb. As we noted earlier, we must never focus on the gifts given to us to build up the Church; our focus must be on Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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