do whatever he tells you
january 19, 2024 | 2nd Sunday in ordinary time, Year C
Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11
On this 19th day of the new year of hope, the Church invites us to ponder on the first miracle of Jesus, the wedding at Cana. At this wedding, they ran out of wine and Mary, who was there together with the disciples, played a key role. Mary is indeed our mother and our intercessor whose advice remains the same for God’s children from all ages. “Do whatever he tells you.” Mary invites us to trust and to follow Jesus as she did and the Lord will rejoice over us as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:1-5).
Why turning water into wine?
Turning water into wine aims at reminding us the true meaning of heaven. The kingdom of God is a celebration of joy, as Jesus is indeed the new and everlasting covenant, the joy, the blessings and the life of all believers. This explains the reasons for this miracle. Mary is asking Jesus to perform this miracle because she is concerned about us. “When the wine runs short… the mother of Jesus said to him: “they have no wine”. At the same time, Mary wants Jesus to reveal God’s Glory. John tells us that, “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so reveals his Glory.” Finally, the miracle was to help Jesus’s disciples to grow in faith. Today’s gospel tells us that after revealing his glory, “his disciples began to believe in him”
Lessons from the wedding at Cana
1) We too will run out of supply
On the journey of faith, we too will run out of supply. St. Ignatius of Loyola calls this lack, “desolation” and St. John of the Cross speaks of the “darkest hour” a moment of spiritual crisis and dryness in our lives. We will experience moments of lack and disappointment and discouragement, loss of loved ones, moments of tiredness or financial loss. In such moments, let’s invite Jesus and Mary in our lives for only Jesus can fill our empty jars. Jesus is the true wine that brings joy into our lives. Jesus who can turn water into wine can also turn our sorrows into joy; transform our worries and anxieties into an experience of hope and rejoicing. God can indeed bless us especially when we are in trouble because he is the God who came to raise us from shame to dignity, the dust and the darkness of the tomb to the glory of the resurrection.
2) Joy as a sign of God’s presence
God can change our lack to abundance. Just as he created us out of nothing, God can take us from nothing to something greater through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s develop a good relationship with Jesus and Mary and our sacramental marriage, our family life, our community of Faith will be blessed and will experience constant joy. With Jesus and Mary’s presence in our families, every family and community becomes a sign of a joyous celebration of God’s presence. The gifts of the Holy Spirit in this very sense will be used by each for the unity and the good of the family, the church and the community where every member gives due respect to others.
Living The Gospel this week. The role of Mary in our Christian faith
Dear brothers and sisters, reflecting on the gospel of this Sunday, I wanted to meditate on the role of the blessed Virgin, Mary. At Cana she notices that the wine has run out and asks Jesus to help. Her faith and care for others are evident in her actions. (John 2:5)
Mary’s request to Jesus shows her trust in His ability to help. She serves as an example of faith and intercession. Just as she asked Jesus to help at the wedding, we can ask her to intercede for us with her Son.
“The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most Blessed Virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them.” Saint Louis Marie de Montfort
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo SAC