Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 66

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.

I suppose every king who took himself seriously and wanted to be taken seriously by his friends, allies and enemies, wanted his queen to be a "trophy bride." Kings, historically, never supposed that women were equal to men, even when they had to deal with a foreign queen. If they had their choice they would choose "the fairest in the land." 

So is that why God chose Jerusalem as his trophy bride? She certainly gets mixed reviews in the Bible. Pilgrims eagerly traveled to the Holy City and the psalmists often sing her praises; but the prophets were not so happy with her. Ezekiel says some marvelous things about her native beauty, but excoriates her for her sins. 

But the History of Salvation celebrates Jerusalem as the Bride of God and Saint John's Gospel recounts Jesus' appearance as a wedding feast. The Bridegroom has arrived at last, and "his bride is prepared to welcome him." (Rev 19:7)

As a priest I've presided over several weddings. Sometimes, during the initial introductions several months in advance, I had my doubts. But when the big day came the couple was always gorgeous, astonishing! Their love and careful preparation had made them eminently desirable to one another, and no one could question their wisdom. Indeed their perspicuity and beauty were  "vindicated" and everyone saw their "glory." 

The Christmas Season is behind us now and we return to "Ordinary Time," but we begin the season with the Wedding Feast of Cana. We remember how happy is the coming of Jesus, and how eager we are to see him. 

The story is comical, as we hear the master of ceremonies complaining that the bridegroom had kept the finest wine until late in the program. The servants knew what was happening, as did Jesus and Mary; and they must have enjoyed a good laugh about it. When the party resumed with even more pleasure for the far superior wine, the Spirit of the event took off again and soared even higher. 

This history of salvation will move from glory to glory as we march toward Jerusalem. But there will be hard times. That should come as no surprise to anyone who attends a wedding. Husband and wife will work for their relationship; they will often struggle with their worst impulses as they dig deeply into their charity to find compassion, forgiveness, understanding and joy. 

Likewise our journey with Jesus to Calvary will be filled with misgivings, and we will hear him complain about us at least as often as we grumble about him. And some of us will flee from Calvary, never to return. That's heartbreaking. 

But the grace of God never gives up on us; he sees beauty in us we cannot imagine. We are committed to one another as husband and wife, through sickness and in health, for better for worse, till death us do part.