Miracles Open Our Eyes to Supernatural Truth (Epiphany 2, Year C)

The Gospel story of the Wedding at Cana is an Epiphany moment for the Disciples. They suddenly realize the meaning of Jesus miraculous powers. We are all skeptics of what people say. As the person about to be elected Pope in the movie The Conclave says – “The Church is not about tradition, the Church is about what you do next.” Jesus sacrificed His personal peace / safety by saving a bridegroom from disgrace and revealed His divinity. Miracles open our eyes to supernatural truth

 

1. A Dangerous secret is revealed at Cana

There is an embarrassing situation. The wine has run out. The new couple would be humiliated if everyone in the community found out about this. It would not be a good way to start a marriage. 

• Mary asks Jesus to do something dangerous
• Jesus is trying to fly beneath the radar of the priests
• He is building a team of disciples before revealing who He is. 
• But Jesus is the only one who can save the situation
• He decides to sacrifice His personal peace and take a risk.
• This is a sign of His sacrificial love for us
• This is a classic epiphany moment. 
• There is something very important that is hidden.
•  Some people see it. Many people do not see it. 
• This is how it is with faith. Our spiritual eyes are suddenly and dramatically opened, and we see something we never noticed before.

 

2. Miracles challenge us to faith

The miracles of Jesus are too high a bar for many people to jump over. They can believe in Jesus as a wonderful teacher and healer. But the healing miracles are a challenge. 

• They stuck in the idea that because they have not seen miracles now, Jesus could not have done miracles then. This is an example of how self-centered our culture is. 
• Others are stuck in the idol worship of science
• My experience is that we all must personally experience the supernatural before we can really believe in it. 

 

3. Gifts of the Holy Spirit Open Eyes & Strengthen Faith

The divinity, forgiveness and Resurrection of Jesus is one of the 7 lost spiritual truths. This is the supernatural foundation of our Faith. We know this is truth because we have seen people changed when freed from feelings of guilt, seen people who experienced heaven or have been given a word of knowledge

• If Holy Spirit of God did not overshadow and impregnate Mary, Jesus was not divine and could not die for the sins of the world
• If God did not raise Jesus from death, we have no hope of resurrection
• Gifts of Holy Spirit are objective truth – seen to be true in many places and times and cannot be disproven.
• Truth is based on consistent evidence – Jesus, Apostles and modern Christians have experienced the same gifts
• Gifts of the Holy Spirit build up the church 
• The evidence our skeptical hearts need to see and experience
• Each have different gifts – need each other
• All growing in love relationship with Jesus – need forgiveness and healing, words of knowledge, wisdom, discernment of spirits, tongues etc.
• My epiphany moment: Liberalized churches have lost 7 spiritual truths:
• Holiness of God
• Process and order of Creation
• Male and female identity and relationship 
• Divinity, Resurrection and forgiveness of Jesus
• How Satan and spiritual evil works
• Supernatural healing and deliverance ministry
• Holy Spirit as the continuing presence of Jesus
• (From Recovering Truth, Freedom, and Democracy: Challenging Woke Totalitarianism)
• Churches need to recover these supernatural truths to thrive