Bible Study: Epiphany 2 (C) – January 19, 2025

RCL: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

This Bible study is part of a series produced by the Office of Global Partnerships of The Episcopal Church.

Isaiah 62:1-5

This text reaffirms the perceptive promises of the last chapter and the mission which aims to restore Zion’s destiny. There is, on the part of the people, a feeling that God has abandoned them but the prophet is insisting that God will not be silent. He also reminds the people of the change of their name, which means a change of fortune and a change of order. This name goes beyond human imagination and, like the new heaven and the new earth, depends upon the appointment of the Creator.

Today, as we face the harsh realities of wars, conflicts, exclusions, and discrimination, we may tend to think that God is not anymore present with us. This season of Epiphany reminds us that, from the dawn of creation, God has never been silent, revealing himself and realizing his promises through our Lord Jesus Christ, whose name is above all names. Jesus is the one who brings us to the fulfillment of life with God. He comes anew in every suffering we face, as God kept coming back to the people of Israel.

The prophet also prophesied that Jerusalem would become a place of beauty in the hands of God and for us, followers of Christ, the beauty of God is seen in Christ, the Crown of all creation. These notions challenge us to renew our faith and to share with those who are yet to know about them, that there is a new order in Christ.

• Why is the prophecy of Isaiah relevant to us who live in a post-modern era?
• Why is it important for us to be prophets of our time?

Psalm 36:5-10

This psalm exalts divine love in the temple and conveys rich and wise counsel to believers. It enlightens our thoughts on flatterers who conceal evil intentions through their words.

This piece of poetry is for a God-fearing person who invokes judgment on those perceived as the enemies of God. Those who have no fear of God plot in their thoughts and through their tongues; they make false statements and by their deeds they destroy.

In parallel, the loving mercy of God is proclaimed. It has no boundaries and is expressed in two images that describe divine love and mercy: “the strong mountains” and “the great deep.”

As we meditate over the words and images described in this psalm, we can feel the immensity and overwhelming power of a loving and caring God. With the reassuring words of the Psalmist who puts his trust in the steadfast love of God, we can “take refuge under the shadow” of a merciful God.

So, as we daily face the challenges of flattering words, let us cultivate an upright heart that will win for us the salvation that God in Christ offers us.

• Have you ever been deceived by those whom you thought had good intentions toward you? To whom did you turn to as you faced this harsh reality?
• Have you ever tasted of God’s loving mercy in your quest for his sanctifying presence? Give some examples.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

I wish to lay emphasis on one part of this text which refers to the unity of the Church. Being the Body of Christ, the Church is called to allow every part of it to play its role so that it can bear true witness to the love of God as revealed in Christ. There is no place for uniformity in the Church, as within it people are bestowed with different gifts and have different tasks to attend to. The gift is offered by the Holy Spirit and is designed for an interdependent life in unity and harmony which brings glory to God.

As all gifts come from God, each one is therefore invited to use his or her competence in the service of God. Unfortunately, we have an erroneous perception that the gifts we receive are limited to the spiritual or the academic realm. Thus, it would be important for us to acknowledge that no distinction is to be made regarding the gifts we freely receive. A person who is a worker in a skilled trade, for example, a carpenter, an electrician, a plumber, and others, should be encouraged to see that the talent he or she possesses comes from God.

The Church would then be enriched if all were given the opportunity to dedicate their skills to serve God and his people. This teaching of Paul also gives a detailed view of the gifts graciously offered to us; from it, we learn about the work and nature of the early Church. It informs us that, as members of the Body of Christ, we have to possess the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. This means that we have to know the deep things about God and simultaneously apply them to our daily lives.

• Do we have a full understanding of how we could serve God and God’s people with the potential we have?
• What is the distinction between wisdom and knowledge?

John 2:1-11

It is at the wedding at Cana that Jesus offers his disciples the first sign of the mystery of his person. By changing water into wine, he reveals the power of God, who transforms human reality by lifting it to a higher level. John, in his own style, presents the miracles of Jesus not to establish proof but to manifest his identity. It is an invitation to believe in Christ as the Son of God.

At the heart of our life experiences, we discover by taking a step back that Jesus, through his presence, illuminates our daily lives and through faith, transforms difficult situations into authentic joy. But it is surprising to see that those who were present did not follow Jesus after such a remarkable event.

In the Word of God, the miracle is above all a sign from God; to understand it, our hearts must be willing to welcome it. Jesus aims to awaken in us an active faith that allows us to proclaim a message of hope and love that can transform hearts and minds. As a sign of God’s Kingdom, Jesus teaches us that the time of preparation is over and that the Kingdom is here. We can encounter God through his Son.

• This sign reminds us that God can unexpectedly enter the ordinary events of life. Would we take the opportunity of those moments to believe?
• In the prophetic writings, wine was as a symbol of the joy of the messianic age. What do we learn from this sign accomplished by Jesus?

This Bible study was written by the Most Rev. Ian Ernest, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s personal representative to the Holy See and the director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.He has served as bishop of Mauritius (2001-2019) and primate of the Indian Ocean (2006-2017). In 1981, after his tertiary studies at the Madras Christian College in Chennai, India, he joined St. Paul’s Theological College in Mauritius as a seminarian. He then went to Birmingham, England, for further studies. He has been very involved in the Anglican Communion as the chairperson of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (2007-2012), the secretary of the Global South (2012-2016), and a member of the Task Force of the Anglican Communion for Unity and Reconciliation (2016-2019).