On this Sunday, the Church continues the Epiphany of the Lord — the gradual manifestation of who Jesus truly is. Today He reveals His glory not in a palace or a temple, but at a wedding feast.

The Gospel places us in Cana of Galilee. A wedding is taking place, and Jesus, Mary, and the Apostles are present. This is not accidental. Our Lord chooses a wedding as the setting for His first public miracle because He has come to reveal the mystery of divine love and covenant.

This wedding would have been very different from those we attend today. For us, it is a ceremony, a brief reception, and then it is over. In the time of our Lord, weddings lasted for days. They were true community celebrations, involving the entire village. This explains why the wine ran out. One had to be well stocked with food and drink, and to run out of wine was not merely inconvenient — it was a real humiliation for the young couple.

We are told there were six stone water jars. We should not imagine small decorative pitchers like those often seen in paintings. These were enormous vessels, roughly four feet high and three feet wide, carved from solid stone and so heavy that it took several men to move them. They were used for ritual purification — for washing, not for drinking. Yet Christ transforms what was meant for external cleansing into wine that brings joy. This is already a sign. He comes not merely to wash the outside, but to transform the heart.

We never learn the names of the bride and groom. Only Jesus, Mary, and the Apostles are mentioned. This is because this wedding points beyond itself. It is a sign of another marriage — the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. Christ is the true Bridegroom. The Church is His Bride. Our Lady stands between them, giving the Bride to her Son. The Apostles stand as the first ministers of the Church.

Through Baptism, we ourselves have been wedded to Christ and to His Church. This sacred covenant is sealed in His Blood. When we ran out of wine — when humanity exhausted its strength and hope — Christ poured out the new wine of His Precious Blood.

This covenant is renewed at every Holy Mass. Holy Communion is our participation in this sacred bond. In receiving Him, the union is strengthened and deepened. We become more and more like Him, the Beloved of our souls.

As we renew this sacred covenant today, let us remember: we belong to Christ, and He is ours in return. In this Holy Sacrifice, we are reminded that our destiny is not merely this world, but eternal life with Him forever.