Right at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest pours wine into the chalice. But then, some water is added as well. Why is this done? In a practical sense, this was just the custom for Greeks, Romans and Hebrews, because the wine was often thick, gritty and too strong on its own. It was simply good taste to add water to wine before drinking it. But, over time, what deeper significance has been ascribed to this ritual? It is a reminder for us of the dual-nature of Jesus Christ. The wine represents Jesus’ divinity, and the water His humanity. And the mingling of both symbolizes the Incarnation of Christ! It recalls for us that Jesus was both fully human, and fully God. This faith-truth is often one which is difficult to wrap our head around. I think we are usually okay with the “fully divine” part – we know that Jesus is God. However, with the temptations of today’s Gospel, we are given an opportunity to see His complete humanity up-close and personal.
Our God is not one who stays up in heaven and just has nice thoughts about us. He freely chose to come live among us, as one of us! And that last part is the key – as one of us! Fully human. For me, that makes all the difference. In both the good times, and the challenging ones, my friend Jesus knows what it’s like to be in my head… And He knows what it’s like to be in my heart as well.
So, when I struggle, and when I am tempted – and I turn to Him – I am turning to one who was also human, and was also tempted! In the gospel, Jesus had just fasted for 40 days. Let’s take a second and imagine that. He is perhaps at His weakest – His most vulnerable. He is “hungry.” Just like we all are sometimes. And then, in that moment, Matthew tells us that three very human desires were placed in front of Jesus: food/sustenance, power and control. What is being offered are those things which we, humans, sometimes think will satisfy our “hungers”. If focused only on His own needs, Jesus would easily have been able to provide for Himself. Satan was attempting to play to His human nature. But because Jesus was like us in all ways except for sin, He used it as an opportunity to model for us, the right behavior – the right response – even when we are weakened. And what was His answer each time? It was to look past the empty promises, and “hunger” only to be closer – and to be truer – to our relationship with God.
That’s what Lent is all about: our relationship with God. And all relationships are grown by pointedly investing time with one another – even when we are tired, disinterested and weakened. So perhaps we can each take that as a challenge in the days ahead… When we might feel like we just don’t have it in us anymore, myself included, let’s not look to Lent as a chance to give up, but rather to give more – to our relationship with our God – who always knows exactly what it’s like to be one of us – in our heads, and in our hearts.
Fr. Mark Paul Amatrucola, c.o.
The Brooklyn Oratory
The mixing of the Wine and Water. I never the history or the symbolism of this act.
ReplyDeleteWe must always remember that Christ was truly human, so He fully understands the temptations put before us each day.
I must reminding myself of BOTH Christ’s Divinity and Humanity.
Tom Holland’ ofs
Class of 1959
As an altar boy, I remember handing the cruet of water to the priest but never thought to ask why. Mass should remind us that Jesus' blood sacrifice is the only way to remove our sins. John F. Longo class of 1961.
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