Feria II infra Hebdomadam II post Epiphaniam
Liturgical Color: Green – For the growth of grace in souls
As the Church continues to meditate upon the Manifestation of Our Lord in the sacred time after Epiphany, today’s Scriptures offer a quiet but profound call to live out the grace we have received. In the Epistle (Romans 12:6–16), St. Paul exhorts the faithful to exercise their varied spiritual gifts in humility and charity. In the Gospel (John 2:1–11), we are present at the first of Our Lord’s miracles—the changing of water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana—through which He “manifested His glory” and His disciples began to believe in Him.
The Hidden Glory of Christ
St. John’s Gospel tells us that this miracle was the beginning of signs (initium signorum), and it occurs not in the Temple, nor before the multitudes, but at a humble wedding. The miracle is worked quietly, known only to Our Lady, the servants, and the disciples. Thus, we see that Christ manifests His divine power not with ostentation, but through acts of generosity and mercy.
As St. John Chrysostom comments:
“He did not begin with raising a dead man, but with a marriage feast; thus He approved the honorable estate of marriage, and removed all suspicion of disdain for it.” (Hom. XXI on John)
Christ blesses the natural joys of human life, and elevates them by His presence. He does not disdain the simple or the hidden. As Pope St. Leo the Great teaches, this miracle at Cana is a sign that “the Word made flesh came not to destroy nature, but to elevate it” (Sermon on the Feast of the Epiphany, II).
The Role of Our Lady
And who draws His attention to the need at hand? It is Our Lady. Her words, “They have no wine,” are brief, but full of maternal solicitude. She speaks not only as a mother to her Son, but as the Mediatrix of all grace for the Church.
St. Augustine beautifully interprets her role:
“She, who gave birth to the Word, gave voice to our need. Although the hour had not yet come for signs, yet by her intercession, grace was anticipated.” (Tract. IX on John)
Her command to the servants—“Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye”—is the perennial counsel she gives to the Church. In this she appears as the new Eve, obedient and faithful, pointing not to herself but to her Son.
Living the Manifestation in Daily Life
The Epistle complements this theme. St. Paul describes the outworking of grace in the life of the Church: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, mercy—all to be exercised with humility, diligence, and charity.
He exhorts us:
“Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man rendering evil for evil. Have peace with all men, if it be possible.”
These admonitions reveal that the manifestation of God’s glory in the world now comes not primarily through great signs and wonders, but through the hidden sanctity of His members.
St. Gregory the Great observes:
“True humility is not in words, but in deeds. He is truly humble who chooses to be despised, who bears injuries with patience, and who rejoices in the good of others as in his own.” (Moralia in Job, XXII.29)
To live as Christians, then, is to carry into our homes and communities the same spirit seen in the servants at Cana—obedient, trusting, unseen, but essential to the working of God’s grace.
A Time of Hidden Growth
The green vestments of this season reflect a period of interior growth. Unlike the great feasts of Christmas or Epiphany, the weekdays after Epiphany are quiet and unadorned, yet full of meaning. They correspond to the hidden life of Christ at Nazareth—years of work, obedience, and daily fidelity.
So too must we embrace the ordinary with supernatural intention. Today’s Gospel reminds us that Our Lord can transform the water of daily life into the wine of divine joy—if only we listen to His voice and do whatever He tells us.
Prayer
Let us pray with the words of the Church:
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui cæléstia simul et terréna moderáris: supplicatiónes pópuli tui clementer exáudi; et pacem tuam nostris concéde tempóribus.
(Collect of the Day – “Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Thy people and grant us Thy peace in our times.”)
Conclusion
The miracle at Cana is not merely an isolated wonder—it is the inaugural moment of Christ’s public ministry, revealing that His glory is made known through love, humility, and obedience. As we hear St. Paul’s instructions to the early Church, let us remember that the true transformation of the world begins within: in the heart that listens to Mary’s voice and obeys her Son.
In the quiet ferias after Epiphany, the Church leads us gently to ponder these truths. May we not overlook the sacred in the ordinary, nor neglect the glory hidden in obedience and love.