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It's
a long way from Cana in Galilee to
Killowen in County Down but I have
little doubt that the hopes and
dreams of the unnamed couple in
today's Gospel were no different
to the hopes and dreams of the
Killowen couple Damian and his
beautiful bride Grainne at whose
marriage I officiated on 27 May
2009.
The
couple of the Gospel, like any
newly-weds, wanted their 'Big day'
to be the best of the days but so
quickly it began to go sour.
In a culture that prized
the virtue of hospitality, to run out of
wine
would have made their wedding
the talk of the country.
But 'She' was sensitive to
their need; his 'Hour' was
precipitated and the couple did
certainly live that day happy ever
after.
The
cynics say Marriage is the triumph
of hope over experience but the
Church says it is a Holy Sacrament
that invites a man and woman to
mirror the love of Christ for his
Church.
Isaiah saw it all when he
wrote, 'As the bridegroom rejoices
in his bride, so will your God
rejoice in you.'
As
such it is a hope for the world.
The world needs marriage
for the simple reason that the
world always is in need of love, a
love that is faithful, a love that
is true.
But love is a fragile plant
needing the rich soil of care and
the gentle rains of fidelity.
And the garden of love is
not complete without precious
petals from the flower of
forgiveness.
ACCORD,
the Catholic marriage care
service, calls their marriage
preparation programme, 'Marriage:
a journey not a Destination'.
The sacrament of marriage
reminds us that this journey is
best walked in the presence of the
Lord who, as St John says, is Love
itself (I John 4:8).
The 17th century
metaphysical poet Richard Cranshaw
caught the spirit of the miracle
of Cana when he wrote, 'The
conscious water saw its God and
blushed.'
Today
belongs to Grdinne and Damian and
to all who share the sacrament of
marriage. in the goodness of God
may the wine of their love be as
abundant as the wine at the
wedding feast in Cana of Galilee
so long ago.
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