A fifth century sermon by St. Peter Chrysologus on the Epiphany may hold some surprises for our twenty first century ears:
In the mystery of our Lord’s incarnation there were clear indications of His eternal Godhead….
In choosing to be born for us, God chose to be known by us….
Today the Magi see clearly, in swaddling clothes, the One they have long awaited as He lay hidden among the stars….
Today Christ enters the Jordan to wash away the sin of the world….
Today Christ works the first of his signs from heaven by turning water into wine.
Then there is the idea that Christ’s birth, the visit of the wise men, Christ’s baptism, and the Cana miracle are all part of Christ’s Epiphany, that is, of making Himself truly known. D.D. Emmons of Simply Catholic provides a succinct explanation:
Except for Easter and Pentecost, the Solemnity of the Epiphany is the oldest of all Christian festivals, one that originated in the Eastern Churches beginning between the second and fourth centuries. Epiphany means to reveal, show or manifest; Christ is revealed….
The feast initially celebrated four events in Christ’s life, events that manifested his royal kingship: the Nativity, the visit of the Magi, the baptism in the Jordan and the wedding at Cana. All were celebrated on Jan. 6 and at first only in the East….
In many countries, Epiphany is a holy day of obligation and commemorated on Jan. 6. In the U.S., the feast is moved to and celebrated on a Sunday between Jan. 2-8. No matter when or where celebrated, this feast calls us to manifest the glory of Jesus by a holy life, and the way we work, pray and worship (Our Sunday Visitor, 1/2/2019).
Three years ago, I started to become more keenly aware of how Christ’s birth, the visit of the wise men, Christ’s baptism, and the Cana miracle are all part of His making Himself truly known to us. In an Epiphany homily, I was reminded that the visiting wise men were very likely from Persia and likely to have been (till that time) practitioners of pagan Zoroastrianism – a type of Gnosticism which incorporates astrology.
(As an aside, the homily coincided with the release of Bohemian Rhapsody, which tells the tragic tale of talented vocalist Freddie Mercury of Queen. Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar to parents who were practitioners of Zoroastrianism.).
Visiting the Holy Sites
The historic Nativity Church sits atop the site of Christ’s birth and the visit of the wise men.
Some believe that the site of Christ’s Baptism by John was also where the Jews of long ago crossed into Israel after leaving Egypt. During the so-called “Six Day War” of 1967, this site was laced with landmines (cf, Times of Israel, 12/10/2018)! When we visited in 2017 (See images 1, 2, 3), efforts were still underway to completely rid the area of explosives. For an area so dependent on pilgrimages and tourism dollars, such delays are beyond comprehension.
As per the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
On the threshold of His public life Jesus performs His first sign – at His mother’s request – during a wedding feast. The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence. (CCC, 1613)
I believe the particulars of the Cana Miracle and our Church’s incredible esteem for marriage frequently go underappreciated and/or misrepresented because of a lack of proper attention.
After visiting the Holy Land, I contacted James Martin, SJ, to ask why his “Jesus: A Pilgrimage” did not mention Cana, the site of Christ’s first miracle. Father Martin replied that it was simply because his first trip to the Holy Land did not include Cana. Yet, the Cana clip from his online Holy Land pilgrimage evidences comments failing to even name Cana’s wedding church and noting the significance of Jesus presence at Cana. Father Martin does not show appreciation for the absolutely unique theological significance of marriage between a man and a woman.
Conclusion
While overlooking the language, think of Alexander Pope’s words: “Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer” (Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, 1735). By not treating the Cana miracle in all its uniqueness – as a manifestation of Christ’s presence and divine will for marriage – I believe that James Martin, SJ, and all who fail to correct him are damning authentic marriage with faint praise.
I am tired of sophomoric clericalism that belittles the grandeur of God’s plan for human happiness. I doubt that I am alone!
[…] What is initially most striking about the site of Christ’s Baptism is the narrowness and shallowness of the Jordan River at the point. Nothing seems majestic. In fact, it is a remarkably humble spot. It recalls Christ humbling Himself to receive Baptism at the hands of His cousin. As I previously noted, […]
Kyle:
I have had the same issue in the past on other articles. You could contact the managing editor, Melanie, about it, or consider that censorship is possible by the host of the site, or just a freaky occurrence (but I don’t think so).
Thank you, Robert. “The Lamb’s Supper” (http://www.scotthahn.com/resources-1/2016/1/14/the-lambs-supper) is a great key to the Book of Revelation.
Joe:
An interesting article about “The Lamb’s Supper”.
https://www.newtorah.org/pdf/Review%20Lambs%20Supper.pdf
An interesting presentation.
https://www.facebook.com/106094052789457/posts/4811905298874952/
I posted this reply yesterday at 3:18 pm: “We share an abhorance to the widespread failure of leadership to clearly and completely condemn certain serious sin. Where do you possibly think there is ANY evidence of approval for same sex marriage in the Cana of Jesus’ time?” I thought that we had moved on.
Joe:
If that private revelation is true, it would appear that we have entered the “end of the age”, as described by Jesus to the apostles.
[…] at Catholic Stand China Trembles – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic Epiphany Manifests the Powerful Mystery of Christ – Joe Tevington at Catholic Stand Why Medieval Composers Called This Sound “The Devil […]
Joe:
Actually I’m referring to the warnings given by Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, as well as the Book of Revelation.
Robert,
While I do not know if we are in the last days, we can absolutely agree on the heinousness of killing preborn children, the abhorence of failing to defend authentic marriage, and the need to pray for our leaders. As per Sister Lucia of Fatima,> “the final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family.”
Joe
Joe:
My concern is about what is taking place in the world today and what is written in the Bible. Pope Francis may be leading us in the wrong direction.
If by “what is taking place in the world today,” you mean the heinous killing of pre born children and the treatment of authentic marriage (i.e., the lifelong, indisolubile, open-to new-life bond between one man and one woman) as though its definition were up for grabs, I could not agree more! Please join me in praying for Pope Francis and that all our leaders acknowledge what is so clear if we choose to see.
Sacred scriptures vs. traditions. Which is more important?
My concern is the path of the RCC under the current pope vs. what is written in the Bible.
Robert,
As I said, I firmly believe in God’s Word, communicated to us by Sacred Scripture AND Sacred Tradition. I am praying for Pope Francis, and I ask you to do the same.
God bless,
Joe
CaptCrisis,
We can agree that astrology is absolutely not to be followed.
Joe
Doesn’t the Epiphany serve as an example of God’s hand in the matter of our everyday lives?
God provided for the escape of baby Jesus from the slaughter by Herod in Bethlehem. Some suggest that the “wisemen” journeyed to Bethlehem from Babylon – they were aware of The Old Testament because of Daniel, who spent years in captivity there.
God is in control and He has a plan, and He has shared it with us through Jesus and the Bible. Maybe we should pay more attention to what is revealed in the scriptures rather than conjecture or edicts from the RCC?
Robert,
I absolutely believe in God’s providential concern, as evidenced in Jesus’ own earthly life by such events as the escape from Herod. He loves each of us in a limitless way. As a Catholic, I firmly believe in God’s Word, communicated to us by Sacred Scripture AND Sacred Tradition. My piece was about connections recognized in the earliest days between the Nativity of our Lord, the Epiphany, the Baptism in the Jordan, and the Wedding at Cana.
God bless,
Joe
I’m a little confused as to how the story of the wedding feast at Cana shows God’s will for marriage? The text doesn’t really say anything about the wedding – not even who is getting married. For all we know, it could’ve been two bridegrooms.
Do you really believe that Jesus would have remained at a wedding which involved two bridegrooms, since His Father called such behavior an abomination?
We share an abhorance to the widespread failure of leadership to clearly and completely condemn certain serious sin. Where do you possibly think there is ANY evidence of approval for same sex marriage in the Cana of Jesus’ time?
Contact me at [email protected]
I have absolutely no interest in appearing, being, or seeming “cute.” I am merely conveying what the Catholic Church absolutely teaches. Thank you.
Jesus was living in a prescientific culture. Astrology was accepted as a legitimate discipline, well into the current age. Even as late as Newton we have serious scientists engaging in it. It was treated like we treat weather forecasting. But science has since exposed it as b.s. and the Church has taken account of that.
CaptCrisis,
Not really following your reasoning, but I agree that astrology is absolutely not to be followed.
Joe
It wasn’t reasoning, just an observation. The Church had no objection to astrology and even implicitly accepted its precepts (e.g., the Easter date controversy) but like (almost) everyone else gradually realized it was all a fable.
I think that you may be thinking of “astroNOMY.” Indeed, “the Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world” (http://www.vaticanobservatory.va/content/specolavaticana/en/who-are-we-/history/origins.html). We are to absolutely oppose astrology:
“2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.”
h
Cute, Joe. Imagine you, telling me what I may think. The wise men were astrologers first and astroNOMERs last. Another minor reason the pews are empty – that is until the trads and SPXers pass on.
Don’t forget the human miracle of being able to read and interpret the heavens. Jesus did
reference signs that deal specifically in the realm of astrology that’s why after 4000 years
its still here and never going away.
“On the threshold of His public life Jesus performs His first sign – at His mother’s request – during a wedding feast. The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1613).