Vigils Reading – 2nd Sunday

THE NEW CHALICE

OF ETERNAL SALVATION

From a commentary by St Maximus of Turin

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The Son of God went to the wedding so that marriage which had been

instituted by his own authority, might be sanctified by his blessed presence. He

went to a wedding of the old order when he was about to take a new bride for

himself through the conversion of the Gentiles, a bride who would forever

remain a virgin. He went to a wedding even though he himself was not born of

human wedlock. He went to the wedding not…to enjoy a banquet, but rather to

make himself known by miracles. He went to the wedding not to drink wine, but

to give it, for when there was none left for the wedding guests, the most blessed

Mary said to him: They have no wine.

Jesus answered as though he was displeased: Woman, he said, is that my

concern or yours? It can hardly be doubted that these were words of

displeasure. However, this, I think, was only because his mother mentioned to

him so casually the lack of wine, when he had come to offer the peoples of the

whole world the new chalice of eternal salvation. By his reply, My hour has not

yet come, he was foretelling the most glorious hour of his passion and the wine

of our redemption which would obtain life for all. Mary was asking for a

temporal favor, but Christ was preparing joys that would be eternal.

Nevertheless the Lord in his goodness did not refuse this small grace while great

graces were awaited.

Holy Mary, therefore, since she was in very truth the Mother of the Lord,

and in her spirit knew in advance what would happen and foresaw the Lord’s

will, took care to advise the servants to do whatever he told them. Of course this

holy Mother knew that the rebuke of her Son and Lord was not an insult born of

anger, but that it contained a mysterious compassion.

Then, to save his Mother from embarrassment because of his reproach,

the Lord revealed his sovereign power. Addressing the expectant servants, he

said, Fill the jars with water. The servants promptly obeyed, and suddenly in a

marvelous way the water began to acquire potency, take on color, emit

fragrance, and gain flavor – all at once it changed its nature completely.