Mgr Prof. Hector Scerri, Ecclesiastical Assistant, ACN (Malta)
Six stone water jars
On our birthday, we normally receive birthday cards, as well, as other birthday wishes through e-cards, Facebook messages, SMSes, and the like. This is something we all like and enjoy. It is a priority that on our birthday we thank the Lord for another year that has gone by. It is paramount that we express our gratitude for the gift of life and so many other gifts and graces we have received during the span of fifty-two weeks. Our birthday offers an invitation to each one of us to reflect on what we have been through – the ups and downs of life – as well as to plan for the foreseeable future. The anniversary of the inauguration of the ACN (Malta) Office is also an opportunity for reflection. The sixth anniversary of ACN (Malta) has reminded me … believe or not! … of the six stone water jars which are mentioned in the episode when Jesus YEARS was invited to the celebration of a ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Jewish wedding at Cana in Galilee. The text, found in St John’s Gospel, tells us: “Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each with a capacity of one hundred or one hundred and twenty litres” (Jn 2:6). I will not be engaging myself in a biblical study on the mentioned text and its context. I simply wish to pause upon those six stone jars. I can imagine them, right now, before me. They are very large. They are also empty. They are really bulky, yet necessary later on during the celebration when a purification rite was carried out, according to the Jewish custom. I can see the blind trust shown by the Virgin Mary who tells the servants: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). Jesus could make the miracle without using anything, but he wanted to involve the servants whom he ordered to fill those six jars. Not an easy task! We are talking of a volume of between 600 and 720 litres. I sincerely admire those servants who unhesitatingly carry out the unexpected task without asking any questions, although they probably would have known that the purification rite came much later. I try to imagine the scenario: they had no tap, no pipe, and no pump! I imagine that in order to fill the large jars they had to go several times to the village water fountain and 8
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bring the water in pitchers which they could easily carry, unless there was a water reservoir at the house where the celebration was on. Well, it was no easy task! The Evangelist does not include these details. What we have is Jesus’ gentle order: “Fill the jars with water” (Jn 2:7), ... and later, after such a demanding and time-consuming task, another order: “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward” (Jn 2:8). We all know this miracle story. We all know what happened, and we, too, are surprised. We know that Jesus made this first extraordinary miracle when he changed water into wine, and the disciples believed in him. This is how the Lord acts. He surprises us by his wonderful deeds. And he always gifts us abundantly. Six stone water jars. Six jars in which Jesus’ miracle took place. Six years of continuous efforts by the ACN (Malta) Office. Six years of generosity by the kind-hearted people in Malta and Gozo whenever we have helped our persecuted sisters and brothers all over the world. Six years of awareness and information about the harsh and moving realities experienced by the Church wherever it is downtrodden. Six years of sheer astonishment when we see that Christ’s Church, today, is still the Church of the martyrs who shed their blood in a powerful act of prophetic witness. Six years. This may seem to be a short span of time, yet, during these six years, I have witnessed thousands of charitable deeds made by Maltese and Gozitans in their tangible assistance to Christians suffering persecution and discrimination. Six years of prayer and intercession for the suffering Church. Six years of spiritual activities to help us grow in our enthusiasm for Jesus. We are filled with zeal in order that we may spread this zeal in others. Six years. Six stone jars full of water. Six jars full of the choicest wine ... to the brim. This has been our experience, here in Malta, in the last six years. The Lord and giver of life has continued to transform “the water of our humble and hidden offerings” into “the choicest wine washing our generous hearts.” And whenever we become aware of this miracle ... our hearts beat fast ... in a song of joy and thanksgiving ... and of Christian commitment ... because we love the Church and because we love each individual person.
