Although after the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, the Church commences with the first week in ordinary time, the previously mentioned feast and the Liturgy of the Word of the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time prolong the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord, which this year was celebrated just after New Year’s Day.
In the Christian tradition, the Epiphany is not only a feast commemorating the Magi’s visit to Jesus presenting him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. The word Epiphany comes from Greek and means manifestation, revelation. And so, the mystery of God that revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ continues to extend itself beyond this visit in the small city of Bethlehem through which our Saviour revealed himself also to all the nations on earth. The Liturgical Tradition also includes the Baptism and the wedding feast at Cana in this manifestation. In fact, the Antiphon for Morning Prayer on the Feast of the Epiphany is as follows:
Today the Bridegroom claims his bride, the Church, since Christ has washed her sins away in Jordan’s waters; the Magi hasten with their gifts to the royal wedding; and the wedding guests rejoice, for Christ has changed water into wine, alleluia.
And also, in the Evening Prayer of the same day, the Church raises her voice and sings:
Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptised by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation, alleluia.
As we find explained in the General Introduction of the Lectionary * (Par. 105), for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Gospel continues to focus on the Lord’s manifestation, in Year C through the Gospel account of the Wedding Feast of Cana, and in Year A and B through two passages from the first chapter of the Gospel according to John.
Despite having already put away our Christmas decorations, the Liturgy still continues to give us a taste of the beauty of this mystery which has been revealed to us to fortify us in our journey as we begin this civil New Year.
* The Lectionary is a book in which we find the readings that are read during Mass.