Homily of His Excellency, Selim Sfeir, Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, March 2, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
O Christ (…) in place of the old Law, you have given us your new Gospel, and instead of the fruit of the vine, you have quenched our thirst with the chalice of your redeeming blood.” – RAMSHO
With hearts full of joy, we welcome the return of the Great Lent with this Sunday we call Cana Sunday. We attentively listen to the Gospel recounting the first of Christ’s miracles. It took place in a noisy country wedding attended by people from many different villages. Our Lady was a guest, so too was her Divine Son. The apostles accompanied Our Lord to this happy event. Here we see the greatness of God living with us at the level of very ordinary things. Everything is simple, so ordinary: a party to celebrate, food to be shared, and the wine runs out. Is it not beautiful how God has come down to be with us in every little circumstance? The miracle that Christ performed at Cana is not just a historical event but one that has eternal meaning.
Christ inaugurates at Cana the new creation. He is the new Adam transforming creation, making water into wine as a sign that he will make wine into His Blood in the Holy Eucharist. Our Lady is the New Eve who gently tries to move Her Son, the New Adam to commence His Work. The Divine Bridegroom is here, let us go out to meet Him!
In this sacred time of Lent, with prayer, fasting and almsgiving we will share in the work of Christ. We do this not because the old creation is bad or evil. Rather by acts of self-denial we preach a little sermon to ourselves that God is worthy of all our love and all our gratitude. By living this holy season of Lent with generosity we will come to the joys of Easter and recognize the new creation of Christ’s resurrection in the most ordinary things. Be generous brothers and sisters, the greater the sacrifice the more abundant the reward!
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1989
The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17). Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. “Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.” – Council of Trent DS 1528
† Selim Sfeir
Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus