Dominica II post Epiphaniam ~ Reflection on Romans 12:6–16 and John 2:1–11
By Catechismus Catholicum
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany invites us to enter more deeply into the manifestation of Our Lord Jesus Christ—not only to the world, but also into the hidden recesses of our own vocation as members of His Mystical Body. The readings for this day, Romans 12:6–16 and the Gospel of John 2:1–11 (the Wedding Feast at Cana), stand in profound harmony. Each reveals something essential about the Christian life: the sanctification of our natural state by grace, and the call to live out our God-given charisms in love and humility.
Romans 12:6–16 — The Order of Charity in the Mystical Body
In this portion of St. Paul’s epistle, we are taught how to live in accordance with the grace given to each of us. The Apostle exhorts: “Having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us, either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith; or ministry, in ministering…” (Rom 12:6-7). These verses emphasize the diversity and unity of the Body of Christ. Each soul has a part to play, each with its own grace, but always directed toward the good of the whole and governed by love.
St. John Chrysostom comments on this passage:
“See how he brings them all to humility. For he shows that it was not of their own merit but through grace that they received gifts, and they are to use them for the edification of others, not for boasting.”
(Homilies on Romans, Homily 21)
St. Paul does not call for uniformity but for harmony. The Church, like a well-tuned choir, resounds with many voices, each distinct yet united in praise. “Let love be without dissimulation,” he continues (v. 9)—a reminder that all Christian action, especially service in the Church, must be animated by authentic charity.
St. Augustine reflects:
“If love is genuine, then it seeks not its own glory, but the good of the beloved; and this is the order of the soul properly disposed—God first, then neighbor.”
(De Doctrina Christiana, I.27)
The passage ends with a series of exhortations that mirror the Beatitudes in their spiritual simplicity and supernatural nobility: “Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep… Be not wise in your own conceits.” These are the attitudes of the saints—humble, empathetic, and always oriented toward others.
John 2:1–11 — The Manifestation of Glory in Daily Life
The Gospel transports us to the small town of Cana in Galilee, where Our Lord performs His first miracle at the request of His Blessed Mother. The Church Fathers are unanimous in seeing this event as not merely a favor to a young couple, but as a theophany—a showing forth of Christ’s divine nature.
St. Cyril of Alexandria writes:
“By His presence at the wedding, Christ sanctified the very institution of marriage. And by changing water into wine, He manifests His creative power, the same that was in the beginning.”
(Commentary on John, Book II)
It is noteworthy that the Gospel emphasizes that “the disciples believed in Him” (Jn 2:11) only after this sign. Though they had already followed Him, this miracle deepened their faith. Such is often our own experience—the Lord draws us gently and then confirms us by manifestations of His grace.
There is great spiritual significance in the vessels used for the miracle: six stone water jars used for Jewish purification rites. Christ fills what is old with something new; He fulfills and elevates the law through grace. The transformation of water into wine also prefigures the transformation wrought in the Eucharist, and ultimately, the sanctification of all creation through Christ.
St. Bede the Venerable offers this mystical interpretation:
“The water stands for the letter of the Law; the wine, for the grace of the Gospel. Thus is shown how Christ elevates the old into the new, bringing joy where there was only preparation.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, Book I)
And above all, we must not miss the intercession of Our Lady. Her words, “They have no wine,” are a quiet but powerful appeal to divine compassion. She speaks not only for the wedding feast, but for every soul in need. Her counsel to the servants—“Do whatever He tells you”—remains her perennial advice to the Church.
Living the Mystery: Sanctifying the Ordinary
On this Second Sunday after Epiphany, the Church gently unfolds before us the sanctity of the ordinary. St. Paul calls us to exercise our gifts—our ordinary duties—in humility and love. The Gospel shows us Christ manifesting His glory not in a grand temple, but in a humble wedding.
This is no accident. Grace elevates nature. Christ did not abolish the natural order; He assumed it, purified it, and divinized it. The message is clear: holiness is not reserved for the extraordinary moment, but is to be found—and must be made manifest—in the fabric of daily life: in the home, in our work, in community.
As St. Francis de Sales would later write:
“Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.”
(Introduction to the Devout Life, I.3)
So let us imitate the servants at Cana. Let us listen to the voice of Our Lady, and do what He tells us. Let us serve, quietly and faithfully, drawing water each day—trusting that in God’s time, it shall be turned into wine.
Prayer for the Week:
O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst sanctify the wedding feast of Cana by Thy divine presence and the first of Thy miracles, grant that we, who are called to be members of Thy Mystical Body, may live our vocations with humility, love, and a ready heart. Through the intercession of Thy Blessed Mother, may we always do as Thou commandest, that Thy glory may be made manifest in us. Amen.