“After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Mt 3:16-17).

“In those days John the Baptist appeared…. a voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths’…. ‘I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnow­ing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire’” (Mt 3:1-3)

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Mt 13-17).

“The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’ Already he is anticipating the ‘baptism’ of his bloody death. Already he is coming to ‘fulfill all righteousness,’ that is, he is submitting himself entirely to his Father’s will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to ‘rest on him.’ Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism ‘the heavens were opened’—the heavens that Adam’s sin had closed—and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation” (CCC 536).

“Through Baptism the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in his own baptism anticipates his death and resurrection. The Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and ‘walk in newness of life’:

“Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him.

“Everything that happened to Christ lets us know that, after the bath of water, the Holy Spirit swoops down upon us from high heaven and that, adopted by the Father’s voice, we become sons of God” (CCC 537).

Our Heavenly Father will delight in us as well as we follow Christ through the baptismal waters and incorporate ourselves into His life. Everything Jesus does serves as an example for us, His disciples and His brethren, as we join Him on the journey to the Father. We follow Him not only through baptism, but we also follow Him in carrying our own cross and offering our own life to the Father on behalf of others. We “go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and ‘walk in newness of life’” (CCC 537). Let us accept the Father’s call and follow Christ into this wondrous newness of life!

The sinless Son of God reveals the Divine Nature in His humble request for Baptism. He stoops from heavenly heights to serve us, to meet us where we are, to embrace the condition of sinners. He reveals that it is in our humble service to others that we imitate Him. He insists that the one who humbles himself will be exalted (Mt 18:4). We shall be like Him not in might and majesty, but rather in stooping down to lift up those around us. We walk with Jesus to serve those around us, to meet them where they are, to embrace them as sinners. We humble servants carefully follow our humble Jesus.

John the Baptist, like the desert fathers and many saints after him, abandoned the things of this world to prepare the way of the Lord. We too must reduce the noise and pleasures of the world to open ourselves to the truth, peace, and joy found in our encounter with Christ.

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Our baptism is also an initiation into mission. The Father calls us to a specific mission meant for us so that we can share in the work of Christ and please the Father.

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We, too, have been reborn of water and the Spirit; we, too, shall “become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and ‘walk in newness of life’” (CCC 537).

Mary told Jesus the wine had run out and instructed the servants to do whatever He told them. Though not yet His time, Jesus gives in to Mary and turns water into wine. The headwaiter is puzzled that the better wine is served late in the celebration. This first public miracle revealed His glory, “and his disciples began to believe in him” (Jn 2:11).

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ [And] Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him” (Jn 2:1-11).

Mary does not hesitate to intercede with Jesus on behalf of the newlyweds. And Jesus gives in to her request even though it doesn’t align with His divine plans. Our Queen Mother has the ear of her Divine Son. Our Blessed Mother also watches over us and willingly intercedes with Jesus for us. We can turn to her, who is both the mother of Our Lord and our own mother. We can also turn to the entire family of God, including Mary and the communion of saints. As children of God, we naturally seek their help.

Mary instructed the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them. Our Blessed Mother understands that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. She always points others toward Jesus. She longs for all her children to learn His ways and follow Him; she hopes for everyone to reflect His light as she does; she deeply desires each of us to become more fully integrated into Christ as children of God. We should follow our Holy Mother’s example; we must obey God in all things, trusting Him completely so we can continue growing in His way.

The generous heart of our Blessed Mother notices the needs of others and promptly seeks the aid of her Divine Son. Our Lord calls us to have a similarly generous heart and to help others in any way we can. We should also be attentive to the needs of both those near and far and try to support them with our help, talents, and, most importantly, our prayers on their behalf. We are also called to intercede for others before God and man, recognizing in everyone a brother or sister in Jesus and Mary.

Our God will not be outdone in His generosity. Not only does Jesus produce the best wine ever, but He also provides it in an incredibly abundant supply! Over 120 gallons—perhaps as much as 180 gallons! We may have to wait on Him—often impatiently, and sometimes for many years—but He always comes through for us with more than we could ever hope for—surpassing our greatest hopes. And as joyful and plentiful as the wedding at Cana was, it points to an even greater, more abundant feast—the marriage supper of the Lamb. What a feast our generous God has prepared for us!

Our Blessed Mother cherishes each of us and is attentive to all our needs. May we have ever greater recourse to her motherly love.

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Jesus and his new disciples celebrated with the newlyweds at Cana. They sang and danced before the Father, joyfully singing a new song before the Lord.

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Jesus’ disciples began to believe in Him after witnessing this miracle. However, His words would ultimately become even more compelling to them than the signs. Peter would even declare that Jesus has “the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).

Jesus preached the Gospel of God’s love. He taught us to call God Our Father and to completely trust in God’s will for us. He taught us that God prefers mercy over sacrifice. He instructed us to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves. He revealed that He is the way, the truth, and the life. That no one comes to the Father except through Him. With Him, we can do all things; without Him, we can do nothing.

“He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, pro­claiming the Gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him” (Mt. 17, 4:23-25).

Jesus preached the Gospel of God’s love. He taught us to call God Our Father and to completely trust in God’s will for us. He taught us that God prefers mercy over sacrifice. He instructed us to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves. He revealed that He is the way, the truth, and the life. That no one comes to the Father except through Him. With Him, we can do all things; without Him, we can do nothing.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt 5:3-11).

“‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, with what will it be salted? It is no longer useful at all, except to be cast out and trampled under by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. And they do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that it may shine to all who are in the house. So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven’” (Mt 5:13-16).

“‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.” But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you. In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way? And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way? Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect’” (Mt 5:43:48). 

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:53-58).

“‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, so shall you be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, so shall it be measured back to you’” (Mt. 7:1-2).

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“‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leads to perdition, and many there are who enter through it. How narrow is the gate, and how straight is the way, which leads to life, and few there are who find it!’” (Mt 7:13-14).

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“Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same shall enter into the kingdom of heaven’” (Mt 7:21).

“After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him” (Mt.17:1-3).

“After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, ‘Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’ When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’ And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, ‘Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead’” (Mt.17:1-9).

“The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ” (RVM 21). The disciples caught a stunning glimpse of Jesus in all His glory. They experienced His beauty, joy, and love in a particularly profound way. They longed to remain there and never leave. Peter even suggested building shelters so the encounter could last on and on. However, the promise of paradise with Christ was still far off. Suffering and death stood between them and such bliss, first that of Christ and then their own.

Jesus provides this spectacular manifestation of His glory as a special gift to His apostles so that hope may remain alive during His passion and death. They would undoubtedly reflect on this time during their dark moments and, through it, cling more firmly to hope. Many saints initially received many consolations but later faced quiet desolation. They wisely reflected on past blessings to help them endure their trials. Likewise, we should reflect on the gifts and consolations we have enjoyed over the years to sustain us through the difficult times.

Peter appears far more interested in the wonders of God than the Word of God. While Jesus speaks with Moses and Elijah, Peter interrupts with nonsensical notions of building shelters to prolong the experience. Instead, Peter should quietly and intently listen to what Christ is saying to these two great prophets. In fact, God the Father even interrupts him: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Mt 17:5). We may marvel over the wonders and signs of God, but we must foremost listen to the Word of God! Our Lord has the words of eternal life; in fact, He is the Word of eternal life. Listen to Him.

Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place to pray, frequently to a desolate mountain summit where the stillness of the environment helped foster the stillness of the heart—the receptiveness of the heart. A place where one mysteriously and mystically drew nearer to God. A place where one could hear the still, small voice from above and deep within. A place where one could make out the words, “Be still and know that I am God!” (Ps 46:11). Certainly, the apostles had grown accustomed to such prayer with the Lord. However, they could not have anticipated the Transfiguration, that beautiful intrusion of power and hope. How sweet and generous are the gifts on the Mountain of God!

The Transfiguration offers an early glimpse of Jesus in all His glory. It also offers His disciples the assurance that they will share in His glory after giving their lives to Him.

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The Transfiguration reveals that Jesus is greater than even the Law and the Prophets, that He truly is the Son of God, and that we must genuinely listen to Him.

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Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about His approaching Passion. This no doubt added to Peter’s desire to stay there, prompting him to interrupt with the offer of building shelters.

“[H]e took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you’” (Lk 22:19-20).

“When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you’” (Lk 22:15-20).

“Christ offers his body and blood as food under the signs of bread and wine, and testifies ‘to the end’ his love for humanity (Jn 13:1), for whose salvation he will offer himself in sacrifice” (RVM 21).

The Eucharist is Christ’s gift to the Church, through which He makes the paschal mystery perpetually present. The Eucharist manifests a “mysterious oneness in time” between the Easter Triduum and every Mass in every age (St. John Paul II). Each Mass extends across time and space to make us mystically present at the Last Supper, the Passion, and the Easter Vigil; each Mass bridges time and space to mystically unite us with every other Mass and all believers; each Mass makes us mystically present and united with the heavenly liturgy; each Mass anticipates the eternal banquet—reaching out and touching it—when God will be all in all.

Christ calls Himself the bread of life, come down from heaven (Jn 6:35). “He is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Tomb, placed in the Churches, and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful” (St. Peter Chrysologus). “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion” (St. Maximilian Kolbe). “When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence” (St. Francis de Sales).

“The Lord, having loved those who were his own, loved them to the end. Knowing that the hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father, in the course of a meal he washed their feet and gave them the commandment of love. In order to leave them a pledge of this love, in order never to depart from his own and to make them sharers in his Passover, he instituted the Eucharist as the memorial of his death and Resurrection, and commanded his apostles to celebrate it until his return; ‘thereby he constituted them priests of the New Testament’” (CCC 1337).

“Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Cor 10:17). “By sharing sacramentally in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you and I are united in a communion of life and love, first with the Triune God, and then with one another and with those who have preceded us in death” (Arch­bishop William E. Lori). The Eucharist is both the sign and the source of our unity. When we gather at the altar to receive Communion, we proceed together through the journey of life to God Himself and the Eternal Banquet of the Communion of Saints.

The Passion hung over their heads. Peter vowed to protect Jesus at all costs, yet John rested his head on Christ’s shoulder, already accepting the inevitable truth, already prepared to stand at the foot of the Cross.

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The Word of God speaks, and it is so. The Word called the universe into existence, commanded the winds and sea, and ordered demons and disease to obey Him, and it was so. The Word proclaims that the bread is His body, and it is so—even though it still appears only as bread. He declares that the wine is His blood, and it is so—even though it still appears only as wine.

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“All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man” (St. John Vianney, Cure d’Ars).

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“Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you—for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart… don’t listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love” (St. Therese of Lisieux).

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.