|
|
Commentary from THE ANNOTATED
BOOK OF COMMON
PRAYEREdited by JOHN HENRY BLUNT
Rivingtons, London, 1884
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
On this day is commemorated that beginning of Miracles by which "Jesus
manifested forth His glory," so that "His disciples believed on Him."
The transmutation of water into wine revealed our Lord as possessing the
power of a Creator; and showed that it was He Who had once taken of the
dust of the earth and elevated it in the order of existence, so that by
His breathing it became a living man. This, therefore, is the Epiphany
of Jesus as the Lord of a New Creation, by which His former work is to
be exalted to a much higher place and function in the dispensation of His
Providence: and in the act which is recorded He prefigured that work of
re-creation which He now causes to be wrought in His Kingdom for the salvation
of souls and bodies. Simple elements pass silently beneath the power
of His blessing: His servants bear forth: water becomes generous
wine. So Baptism exalts the souls and bodies of men from the Kingdom
of Nature to the Kingdom of Grace, and the Holy Eucharist is the means
by which our whole nature is built up into the nature of Christ, elevated
from one step to another, "Changed from glory to glory."
Thus at a marriage supper was revealed the great truth of that Union
between the Lamb of God and the Bride by which the virtue of the Incarnation
of the Word is extended to fallen human nature. And thus also are
we taught, that in the Miracle which is being continually wrought by the
elevation of lowly elements into sacramental substances, and by the regeneration
and edification of souls through their operation, Christ is still "manifesting
forth His glory" in every generation, and giving cause for His disciples
to believe in Him.
|
|
