9781644135945

The Christmas Cycle
Old Testament; but this, His most precious gift, is reserved for the day when His only-begotten
Son should take flesh in the womb of the Virgin.
“Thou hast saved the good wine until now.” The holy Eucharist is another manifestation,
or epiphany, of Christ. Here God reveals Himself in the form of bread and wine. Having partaken
of this miraculous “wine,” we also experience a change. We are strengthened, cleansed,
and purified. “Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to His name. Come and
hear all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great things the Lord hath done for my soul”
(Offertory). In the Eucharist we see His glory. We believe in Him; we follow Him. Let us each
day in the Holy Eucharist be filled with His grace and divine presence, and become ever more
intimately united with Him. What a holy, grace-filled wedding feast! It is the introduction to
and the preparation for the eternal wedding feast in heaven.
“At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. And
Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the marriage” (Gospel). This union of man’s soul
with God was ordained by the Father that we might be lifted up from our lowliness and partake
of the fullness of His divine life. With grateful hearts we acknowledge: “The Lord sent His word
and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let the mercies of the Lord give
glory to Him” (Gradual).
He who wishes to attend the wedding feast must come attired in a wedding garment. St.
Paul explains what this means: “Let love be without dissimulation: hating that which is evil;
cleaving to that which is good; loving one another with the charity of brotherhood; with honor
preventing one another. In carefulness not slothful; in spirit fervent, serving the Lord; rejoicing
in hope; patient in tribulation; instant in prayer; communicating to the necessities of the saints;
pursuing hospitality. Bless them that persecute you; bless and curse not. Rejoice with them
that rejoice; weep with them that weep, being of one mind, one towards another; not minding
high things, but consenting to the humble” (Epistle). Thus clothed with virtue must he be who
would attend the heavenly wedding feast. Is my soul so attired when I partake of the Eucharistic
wedding feast? Let us examine ourselves according to the instructions of St. Paul in the Epistle.
Prayer
O almighty and eternal God, who rulest all things both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear
the prayers of Thy people and grant us Thy peace in our days. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monday
“Let all the earth adore Thee, O God, and sing to Thee” (Introit). We praise Thee because Thou
dost celebrate daily Thy epiphany in our midst in the Sacrifice of the Mass, because in the miracle
of the consecration, Thou dost transform bread and wine into Thy body and blood, and because
Thou dost give them to us in Holy Communion. “May the operation of Thy power be increased
within us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that being quickened by Thy divine sacraments, we may
by Thy bounty be prepared to receive what they promise” (Postcommunion).
What takes place in reality at Mass is symbolic of what happens when we take off the old man
and put on the new. We change from sinful, earthly, passionate, imperfect creatures to sons
115