I awoke this morning, pondering the Wedding at Cana. Just pondering….
We are baptized with water. Just as our Lord commanded that the empty jars be filled with water. The empty jar is our body. The water and wine, our souls. Over the course of our life, we become like wine. If we lead a life of bitterness and sin, it affects the taste of the wine that is produced. If we lead a life in Christ, we continue on His path, we become sweeter with His word. “Joy”.
The world is a bitter place. If we are left in our bitterness, it adheres to our souls and if you have ever tasted very bitter or dry wine, then you know what I am talking about. “The soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it” Matthew 27:34
When we adhere to the faith, we receive the sacraments and truly live a holy life, we feed on the Word of God, we consume Him and become obedient to Him, our lives become sweeter and the bitterness of the world simply dissolves. Remember the old saying, you can catch more bees with honey than vinegar? When wine turns to vinegar it becomes tart, sour, acidic, harsh.
When wine becomes wine, tasty and palatable, it is corked and saved to be enjoyed at a later date. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 Through confession, the impurities or the bitterness is removed, cleansing the wine into a fragrant bouquet again. Only our Lord can do that… “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28
“I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances.” Ezekiel 36:25-27