The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
January 14, 2007
12:45PM Meditation
John 2:1-12
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
At our meeting with Archbishop Myers two months ago in Newark the leaders of the Anglican Use congregations made many requests of the Ecclesiastical Delegate, and he was receptive to all of the ideas we put forth. Before we left the meeting, however, we wanted to know what we might do for him, making sure that he knew we valued his ideas as much as he valued ours. His answer was short and simple. Archbishop Myers said, “To help me, trust Fr. Stetson.”
Fr. Stetson is the secretary to the Ecclesiastical Delegate, a position he has held for many years. When a person wants to be considered for the Pastoral Provision process, he will often contact Fr. Stetson first. If his bishop should contact Archbishop Myers in Newark, he is referred immediately to Fr. Stetson in Washington, DC. Everything that we do relating to the Pastoral Provision goes through Fr. William Stetson. This is simply the order of things, and Archbishop Myers, when he had the opportunity, asked all of the pastors of Anglican Use communities to trust his secretary as much as he trusts his secretary. We understand that nothing happens without Archbishop Myers’ approval. In fact, Fr. Stetson has no authority or ability to make decisions by himself. But he is an effective agent to help us get things done. If we want Archbishop Myers to do something, we are to ask Fr. Stetson. Fr. Stetson will intercede for us.
Now, of course, I don’t attribute qualities of the divine to Archbishop Myers, but I thought of this relationship as I read today’s Gospel. Jesus was at a wedding in Cana, and the wine gave out. It is interesting to note that St. John makes no reference to what happened between the wine giving out and Mother Mary making her request to her Son. But this we know: Mary asked Jesus on behalf of the wedding party to provide wine for the celebration. It was not the bridegroom who asked Jesus. It was the steward of the feast who asked Jesus. It was not the disciples who asked Jesus. His mother asked him. Jesus actually disagreed with his mom. He said, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). But then he did what she asked him to, anyway. It was important to his mother, so he paid attention to the request. It was important to his mother, so he did what the bridal party wanted.
Many Anglicans, and even Catholics who have come from the Anglican tradition, are unfamiliar, perhaps we could go so far as to say uncomfortable, with asking St. Mary the Virgin for help in having their prayers answered. But there is no reason to be uninformed or ill-at-ease about this practice. Today’s Gospel is our witness from Scripture that appealing to Mary works, that Mary is in a position of influence with her Son, that Jesus loves his mother very much. If she could get Jesus to change water into wine at a wedding, imagine the influence she has with regard to really important matters. Prayers to Mary are the great untapped resource for so many. We should not be numbered among those who don’t take advantage of this incredible benefit.
To understand why we should ask St. Mary to intercede for us we must have a good understanding of the communion of saints. The many saints’ days that we observe throughout the year are a reminder that many faithful Christians have gone before us, and innumerable people now stand before the throne of grace with direct access to Jesus Christ. The reward of their faithful labor on earth is manifested in this reality. Where once they looked through a glass, dimly, they now see face to face. Having served their Lord faithfully on earth they have been given the privilege to serve Him faithfully in heaven. One of the ways they do that is by praying for the faithful, both those who have died, and those who continue to labor here on earth. We are connected to the souls in purgatory and the souls in heaven through this fellowship of prayer.
It only makes sense that those who have served Jesus longer will have more influence with him. It only makes sense that those who know Jesus more intimately than we could possibly know him here on earth will better be able to bend his ear. It only makes sense that those who are before the throne of grace will have better access to the Son of God than those who still see through a glass dimly. It only makes sense that we should love those whom Jesus has loved enough to place before him for all eternity.
I know a man who converted to Catholicism a while back who told me that as an Anglican he did not pray to the saints, much less to the Mother of God. But in desperation he asked the Blessed Mother to intercede for him, and his request was heard. Something he had offered up to Jesus directly for years was answered almost immediately when he took his petition to Mary. Msgr. della Pica, my parents’ priest in Bethlehem, told me that this unwillingness to seek the Blessed Mother’s intercession was a sign of the man’s arrogance, imagining that he would have more pull with our Lord than Jesus’ own mother has and will have for all eternity.
We often imagine that our concerns should be Jesus’ concerns. We think that Jesus should hear us and do what we ask. But with this orientation we forget that there are a lot of other people whom Jesus loves very much, not least among them those who have fought the good fight and finished the race. If I were to walk past Fr. Stetson, without so much as glancing at him, and make my request directly to Archbishop Myers, the Ecclesiastical Delegate would be hurt because I would have hurt someone he loves very much. How much more true is this of our prayers that ascend to heaven! When we ignore the communion of saints, when we ignore the Blessed Mother, we ignore people whom Jesus loves more than tongue can tell, people for whom he has great concern. If we desire our petitions to be heard we could do well to make all of Jesus’ concerns our concerns, to show our love for those Jesus also loves, never putting our love before theirs. Surely we could use the help, and we could use the humility even more.
May the prayers of Mary, the Mother of God, bring us strength in our weakness, comfort in our affliction, and an assurance of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all Christ’s saints.
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.