Daily Reflection – Jan 17, 2016

Sunday 17 January 2016

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5
Responsorial Psalm:
Proclaim his marvellous deeds to all the nations
Psalm 95(96):1-3, 7-10
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11

Today’s Note: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading:

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.

Reflection:

With Jesus’ baptism, Christmas season is over. The baby has grown into the man on mission. In John’s gospel, to show God’s abundant generosity in sending the Word to become flesh, we meet that man on mission. Jesus’ first sign is an abundance of new wine, 180 gallons of it! Picture those 180 gallons, a festive reminder that God promised this kind of rejoicing, according to Isaiah and the psalmist. What has Paul’s contemplation of the Body of Christ to do with this? Chapter 12 of this letter will continue through January and come to a climax on January 31 with the “hymn to love.” An abundance of love, God’s love, is the Spirit poured out with gifts that lead us to service and works, Paul writes today.

Can you enter the scene at Cana? How is Jesus—his figure, face, mood, dress, activity? Does he dance? Sing? Look at him looking at you. Are you the bride, the bridegroom, the steward? How is his look? How does it make you feel? How will you respond?
Mary, mother of this man on mission, help us always to “do whatever he tells” us.
Holy Spirit, giver of gifts in abundance, let us hear Jesus’ voice as he sends us to love.