Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Second Sunday of the Year C – January 20, 2019.

Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1-3,7-10; 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 & Gospel John 2:1-11.

Theme: With Prayer, Our Wine Never Gets Finished!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, our liturgy this Sunday presents us with an opportunity to reflect on prayer and its potential in the economy of salvation. I pray we use this occasion to re-catechise ourselves about the various forms of prayer in the Church namely latria, hyperdulia and dulia. We shall scan through a summary of the readings to draw pastoral lessons before concluding.

Background & Summary of the Readings

In the first reading (Isaiah 62:1-5), the Prophet Isaiah brings a message of hope that the nations will see the integrity of the Jerusalem noting that she would be called by a new name and a crown of splendour as well as a princely diadem in the hand of the Lord. He further uses poetic language to describe her being wedded like a young man marries a virgin. He ends by saying, God will rejoice in her.      

In the second reading (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), St. Paul insists that there are a variety of gifts in the Church given by the same Lord but meant for service. He lists these gifts as, preaching, instruction, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, recognising spirits, tongues and interpretation. He concludes by emphasizing that: “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who distributes different gifts to different people just as he chooses.”

The Gospel (John 2:1-11) narrates how Jesus and his mother were invited for a wedding at Cana in Galilee. It tells how the couple ran out of wine and Mary intervened. Jesus obliged his mother by telling the servants to fill the six stone jars with water. When they did, the water had turned into wine. Although his hour had not yet come, he saved this couple from total embarrassment. 

The Virgin Mary’s intervention and the role of the stewards who filled the six stone jars with water at the instance of Jesus introduce us to the role of prayer. We shall now take a close look at the gospel and state how it relates to the other readings. 

 

Various Forms of Prayer in the Church

There are three forms of prayer in the Church. These are, latria, hyperdulia and dulia. We shall highlight them thus:

1. Latria: Since Latria is the highest form of prayer that takes place between God and humanity in which human beings accord God the worship that is due to no other being, Jesus’ nature miracle of turning water into wine is indicative of this form of prayer. Like the celebration of the Holy Mass, the miracle of Cana was a prefiguring of the Eucharist. The first miracle of Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee was a miniature epiphany which elevated marriage to the status of a sacrament, a means of salvation and eventually prepares us for the wedding feast of the lamb in heaven.

2. Hyperdulia: Because the Blessed Virgin Mary intervened for the couple at Cana, it reveals Hyperdulia - the veneration and honour which the Church gives to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Often, this is based on her Immaculate Conception and Perpetual Virginity. God places her over the saints. We see that during his first miracle where Mary demonstrated her unique role in the economy of salvation. In imitation of what she did for the couple at Cana of Galilee (Jn. 2:1-11) the Pilgrim Church asks for her intercession. This is why we don’t need to apologize to anyone when we pray the Holy Rosary, observe May and October Devotions or seek her maternal intercession and engage in other Marian Prayers.

3. Dulia: Dulia means the veneration of the Saints. It is not the adoration or worship due to God; rather, it is the intercession of the saints who are ranked after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholics seek the intercession of the saints who are before God through invoking or honouring them because of their heroic virtue. Just as we ask the saints or fellow Christians to pray for us, the role of the servants who assisted in filling the stone jars with water can be likened to Dulia.

 

Pastoral Lessons

1. The first reading challenges us to be wedded to God by being committed to him knowing fully well that it pleases him well if we do his will.

2. The variety of gifts in the Church namely, preaching, instruction, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, recognising spirits, tongues and interpretation, like fine wine calls us to use our gits and talents for the advancement of the kingdom of God.