We cannot separate the reality of the cross from that of the Resurrection. Anytime in scripture where a warning is made concerning the cross we are quickly given a glimpse into the light that will come with the Resurrection of the body. From all the suffering that comes into our lives we can trust inside the spiritual freedom which will follow it. Joy and sorrow are two emotions which are opposites of each other, but yet are closely connected together. If I feel pain it would only make sense to say that I would be joyful when the pain comes to pass. When We feel joyful we can quickly find ourselves in the midst of a situation that leads us into sorrow. In the wedding feast of Cana both of these emotions can be found. There is joy due to the celebration of the wedding feast and sorrow that comes with the lack of wine that is present for the guests. The joy of the Resurrection is found in this story despite the sorrow that is cast from the shadow of the cross.
Our Blessed Mother was present at this celebration and was joined by her son and His disciples who were called following his baptism within the waters of the Jordan. This celebration was one of great joy because a wedding was to be celebrated. For anyone who has ever had to assist with a wedding celebration you know that there is a lot of work that must be done. We find the planning of one day to be overbearing enough, but imagine if you had to plan that event to last a whole week if not two. That was the event that was being celebrated that day. The joy of this celebration commenced until the wine ran out as then there gave rise to sorrow. On a perfect day such as this something as embarrassing as a lack of preparation would put an end to this occasion of great joy. The bride, the groom, nor the family brought this intention to our Lord, but it was our Blessed Mother who took notice. She took this sorrow to her heart and brought it to her Son who she knew could restore the joy that was once found.
His response to His mother would change her life forever. "My hour has not yet come." Here he is speaking about the hour when he would suffer upon the wood of the cross. Repeatedly throughout the Gospel of Saint John he would speak about this "hour" which was always used to foreshadow his death upon the cross. He was able to bring joy back to this celebration by turning water into wine, but the shadow of the cross remained. This one miracle would set the stage for his approaching death and the joy that would come with the Resurrection of the body. The creation of this perfect wine was the event where Christ's divinity would publicly become known. From the command of Mary and the working of this miracle she was destined to become the Lady of Sorrows. From the many sorrows that she would endure through the suffering of her Son would come the joy of the empty tomb. Mary is the reminder that sorrow does not have the last word in our lives. In the words of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta: "Never let anything cause you so much sorrow that you forget the joy of Christ risen."
In the words of Isaiah even those who are "forsaken" can be known as "my delight." In some way all of us here have felt as if we are forsaken and thus left with sorrow. Trivial things like grades in school, speeding tickets, and misplacing your phone or keys can bring sorrow. Hopefully in time these issues will be resolved and you will feel as if nothing has ever happened. Others must endure the suffering of one they love or even suffer themselves. Despite the veil of sorrow that has entered into our lives may we find the redemption that can be found through this suffering. In these moments we join with the cross of Christ and await becoming the "delight" of The Lord through the triumphant Resurrection of the body. This week we also look sorrow in the eye through the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade from which innocent life is continuously destroyed through abortion. Sorrow is found within all these moments, but from them is found the joy of everlasting life. Sorrow was found when wine ran dry, but joy was returned with the miracle that was worked.
Mary was the advocate who brought sorrow into joy. From the barren reality of a lack of wine to the life giving miracle that was worked at her request; Mary was taking the needs of all these people and delivering them to her Son. Mary is able to give comfort to all those who find themselves in sorrow and bring the joy that can only be found with her Son. May we allow our Blessed Mother to intercede for us so that our sorrows may be comforted. May we allow ourselves to hand over all of our needs to her, so that these needs may become known by her Son. In this age we need to trust in the great prayer of the Holy Rosary because through each of these mysteries we endure joy, sorrow, and the return to joy. We celebrate at the birth of Christ, mourn with his suffering and death, and then from our sorrow are given reason for joy through Christ's Resurrection. In the Rosary Mary walks with us through these emotions as we bring all our needs along for this journey.
My brothers and sisters in Christ may each of us trust today in the joy of Christ Resurrected. Even among the many sorrows that we must endure may we realize that joy is still to be found. The same joy that was found with the transformation of the water into wine can be known within our own lives if we place our trust in Christ and His Blessed Mother. Christ directs us to the cross and the reality that despite sorrow can come great joy. Mary takes each of our needs and intercedes on our behalf, so that our sorrows can become known by the heart of her Son. From the heart of her Son transformation can take place within our lives where we are able to find joy even from among the terror of sorrow. May we gather the many sorrows within our lives and within the world and bring them to be left with Mary and her Son. They will be gathered together and the hope of joy can finally be felt within our lives.
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