Jan 20 2019 Reflection

Sunday 20 January 2019

First Reading: IS 62:1-5
Responsorial Psalm:
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
PS 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10
Second Reading: 1 COR 12:4-11
Gospel Reading: JN 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 the 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:

Jesus . . . revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. (John 2:11)

Jesus’ first miracle was impressive: he turned water into wine. Because it happened at a marriage celebration, you might consider this a special wedding gift for the happy couple. But it was also a miracle performed so that his disciples would see his glory and “believe in him” (John 2:11). 

John tells us that this was the first sign that Jesus performed. Then he goes on to recount six more signs, each of which is meant to deepen his disciples’ faith—and ours as well. Each sign tells us that when we place our faith in him, he sets us on a path of renewal. He takes our plain, everyday “water” and turns it into choice “wine.”

What do the other signs tell us? That Jesus’ words have the power to heal us (John 4:46-54; 5:1-9). That he wants to feed us with his Living Bread and calm the storms and anxieties in our hearts (6:1-21). That he wants to open our eyes to see him as the Lord who loves us (9:1-7, 35-39). And that he wants to raise us from our “tombs” of sin and doubt and unbelief (11:1-44).

All of these stories point to God’s work of restoring and renewing what is lacking. They tell us that God wants to restore in us the joy of worship and to become for us the source of all blessing.

When you hear this passage proclaimed at Mass today, think about the ways in which you need to be renewed. Maybe Jesus wants to renew your zeal for him or your love for your spouse or your desire to pray. Believe that God is always at work in you, bringing back to life what has been languishing. Just as he did at Cana, he wants to supply you with the choicest of wines. And in the process, he wants to show you his glory. 

“Thank you, Jesus, for renewing me. Lord, help me to see your glory so that I can believe in you more deeply.”