TRANSFORMATION

“Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy” - Pope Francis

Lent is a time to examine oneself in the presence of God and make rectifications, which leads to transformation. The season of Lent is an exodus, the exodus of bearing good fruit in life. In other words, we must change our priorities and accept His will in our life.

 Chapter 2:1-11 in John’s gospel is well-known, it gives prominence to faith, hope, and transformation. The sign at the wedding feast in Cana is an important event in the public ministry of Jesus Christ. The fact that tasteless water can become high-quality wine reminded us that there is a chance for all to be transformed. Let us go through this passage and observe some attributes of transformation.

It is necessary to be aware of one’s surroundings.

In Palestine, wine is an integral element of all celebrations. It was not a sign of luxury, but it was a necessity. Wine is more than just a drink at a Jewish wedding; it is a sign of joy, abundance, and blessing. The place Cana has no social significance at that time because scholars assume this wedding was conducted by a peasant family. So, some scholars mentioned this wedding as a Peasant wedding.

The wine shortage occurring at a wedding home in Cana is quite unexpected. The wedding house began as a happy haven but quickly transformed (devolved) into a place of depression and self-hatred. Despite the massive crowd, everyone’s attention is drawn to Christ amid the crisis. Christ’s presence in both delight and sorrow seems to be equally valuable. The scarcity of wine is a tremendous failure and dilemma. Mary notices the situation and steps in to help. Even though there were many others around, only Mary was interested in resolving the crisis. During this lent time Mary wants to teach us that we must discern the issues around us and should respond effectively to the needs and issues of society. This is a phase of transformation. Thus, lent also encourages us to switch away from the self-contained islands and stand with the underprivileged, broke, and deprived.

The process of Transformation is beyond our Enumeration

Verse four says “My hour has not yet come.” For all of us, time seems to be more precious. We strive to be timely at all times. Similarly, we expect God to intervene in my life according to my timeline. But the Bible clearly says that God has his own time for all, even Jesus also waited for the time of his father. The sign in Cana is just the beginning of his work, not an ultimate one. So, in this Lent time, we must wait patiently before God for his perfect time. God’s plan is always best, sometimes the processes are painful and hard, but don’t forget that God is doing something better for you. So, during this Lent season, let us set aside our concerns about finishing our timetables and instead cultivate the practice of waiting for the divine timing.

Another thought is that the wedding steward is emblematic of many of us. Who has failed to fulfil his responsibilities, yet we don’t see this steward stepping in to help resolve the crisis. It is the intervention of Christ that has become instrumental in resolving the issue here. However, in verses 9-10, (“When the steward tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.”) we see a worldly judgment of the present abundance. So, we must realize that the presence of the Lord will always transform us into a better life.  The presence of Jesus gives rise to the extraordinary in the ordinary,

CONCLUSION

Lent is a season focused on confession and renewal. When Jesus’ presence and intervention enable life to be transformed and formed, it must lead to the transformation of Lent into something special. We must be able to see our imperfections and limitations during Lent and enter a binding relationship with Christ. Only persons who recognize imperfections in their own lives can truly repent. Only those who confess their sins and repent are allowed to enter Christ’s presence. The house at Cana is remarkable in that, it was able to recognize Christ’s presence. So let us open our minds and accept the possibility of transformation given by the season of Lent.

PRAYER: 

Oh God, make the thoughts of God in our hearts during these days of Lent a blessing to the community, to our purification, and to be your good witnesses. Lord God, may the renewed presence of His Gospel transform our lives and help us to live better lives in the world. Amen.

Article By: Chris David Daniel