The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C): January 16, 2022
Readings: Isaiah 62:1–5; Psalm 96:1–3, 7–10; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; John 2:1–12
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| Jesus performs a miracle in Cana from water into wine |
To listen to the audio-video reflections on YOUTUBE, please click on this link
During this Christmas Season, I witnessed a number of weddings. I attended a few of them either presiding over the Eucharist or as a preacher. In fact, I had done hardly before. In my 10 years as a priest abroad, (i.e., until 2016, in the US, UK and Russia), I blessed or attended no Church weddings at all! The recent weddings in my native place gave me a glimpse into how India has changed in its way of celebrating love and life together. The sanity and sanctity of wedding celebrations have been taken over immensely by the external pomp and glamour so much so that the reality of life, its context and content has little meaning. I also wondered in such external celebrity hype and over-commercialization of the weddings, does the question of suffering and sin, anger and frustration, loneliness and stubbornness in a couple's life could be transformed into harmony and peace, joy and laughter, fellowship and togetherness in the long run. In contrast to this, we have a wedding feast at Cana attended by Jesus and his beloved mother Mary.
1. Large heartedness of Mary
On the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we have a Gospel passage from St John enumerating a beautiful episode of the wedding celebration in Cana (John 2:1–12). In fact, St John the Evangelist gives us the first miracle of Jesus ever performed in his Gospel and that too happens to be at the marriage feast. As the passage suggests to us, it is a social celebration where everyone seems to have been invited, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the disciples. There seems to be a close family bond between the marriage party and the family of Jesus. What is fascinating is the initiative of Mary in proposing to Jesus to do something for the marriage host to save his self-respect. Mary had absolute faith in her son and would respond immediately. Jesus' quick intervention was utterly necessary to save the skin of the host. It was a question of lack of wine at the wedding party. The scarcity of a traditional drink would spoil the whole celebration itself.
The conversation between Mary and Jesus that is between the mother and her son takes us to an understanding of how much both of them involved themselves in the social life of the Jewish society. They are active members of family celebrations and gatherings. The concern and urgency that Mary felt regarding the lack of wine and the way she expressed to Jesus shows that Mary is a person of compassion and concern, of family and large-heartedness. She is a woman of sensitivity and empathy. Her caring and loving nature prompts Jesus to perform his first miracle in a spectacular way. This episode would also reveal his glory and mother becomes a pointer in revealing who her son is. How much do we see his glory in our lives and believe in Jesus?
2. Jesus participates in the joy of others
When we delve deeper into the life of Jesus as mission-oriented, we must look at Jesus not just on the streets and synagogues, with diseased and dumb people, with dying and deaf people but also in the celebrations and joyous occasions. Jesus loved happy and joyful occasions. Jesus enjoyed having a good meal and celebrating life. That's why Jesus often speaks about life in abundance: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). The world is full of misery and strife, pain and suffering, but the world is also filled with joy and peace, happiness and blessedness. Jesus was able to enter into both realms of this world. His encounter with the world was real and actual. He saw the world with the reality of life and death, joy and peace. Therefore he was able to enjoy any given moment in his life, be it at the celebration of marriage or weeping at the tomb of Lazarus. For Jesus, everything mattered and had a meaning in his preaching and teaching ministry.
3. Jesus involves in the ordinary
The wedding feast at Cana shows us another dimension of our relationship with God. As sons and daughters of God, we are all part of God's family. We are bound by a covenantal relationship with God. In fact, the Bible begins and ends with a wedding. Does God’s greatness catch our attention, are our eyes and ears are open to the signs he reveals around us? The togetherness of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Gen 2:23-24) and the marriage of supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9; 21:9; 22:17) tell us that we are part of God's eternal plan of bonding together. The first reading of today from Prophet Isaiah speaks about the relationship between God and Israel as a couple. God is the groom and His people are the bride unfortunately an unfaithful spouse (Jeremiah 2:20–36; 3:1–13). However, God does not allow the separation instead calls for an everlasting covenant (Hosea 2:18–22).
Jesus' involvement at the wedding feast of Cana symbolizes that through the ordinariness of human life, he will become one flesh with all humanity in the Church as St Paul writes to the Ephesians (5:21–33). Through the sacrament of Baptism, we are all betrothed to Christ as a bride to a husband: "I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband" (2 Corinthians 11:2). The sign of God’s love spring all around us. The miracle of Cana from water into wine transforms the disciples of Jesus from disbelief into belief and trust in their master is confirmed. Moreover, the wedding at Cana sets the stage for Jesus' public life in an ordinary way. Because every gift each one has for sharing, caring and building a true relationship with God and one another.
Questions for reflections:1. How well can you participate in the joy of others?
2. Often secular events can wear you out. How do you look at the role of secular functions in your vowed religious life? (This question is for Nuns and priests!)
3. Mary invites Jesus to intercede. How often do you go to Mary to intercede for you?
4. Do you invoke the intercession of our Lord to the needs around you?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, you are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Bless this day, that I may be merciful and gracious towards others. In place of anger let mercy take its place in my life.
Almighty God, may I find gladness today in all its toil and difficulty, its pleasure and success, and even in its failure and sorrow. Help me Lord not to concentrate too much on myself but on You and the needs of the world. Let me have the strength to gladden the hearts of others and bear the burden of others. May this way of living bring glory to you alone. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.
5 comments:
It's a great message on the theme... Most favourite passage I love to read ever... Excellent interpretation of the scriptures... With very good beginning with an apt title. Thank you for your generous sharing despite your busy schedule... I admire the way Mother Mary and Jesus sharing their joy with others in abundance... an amazing miracle with an ordinary people... In the wedding at Cana...
I'm spellbound by the reflections! Great job Fr. Olvin, an attentive listener of the Spirit.
You brought up very distinctly how Mother Mary and Jesus involved themselves in social life. Their presence was a great blessing and it made a difference is what I was convinced. Had they not been there, the family would receive a bad impression.
And you posed a particular question for priests and religious, and what I feel is Jesus has set a good example. Therefore we should also become a blessing. We may not perform Miracle like Jesus, may not be getting a chance to intervene like Mother Mary but if we call ourselves the close followers of Jesus, then what I feel is to get involved, share in the joys of others, just be a sign of God's love.
My response may or may not be up to the question posed, but what I personally feel is rereading the realities is the hour of the time so in that perspective, I just put down my point.
Blessed to hear this on curfew time where we can't attend the mass.
Thanks. Participating in the joy of others can keep connectedness amongst human beings, especially journeying with the poor. Like Mary and Jesus, we are invited to do the same. Keep safe and well, too.
Very good ideas in this blog comparing the commercialization of marriage. Commitment to each other is often not discussed. And after spending all that money, marriages here end up in divorce and ill feelings instead of love snd caring for each other! But let’s not forget that Jewish marriages also sometimes ended in divorce snd abandonment of women! Jesus doesn’t talk about that. Thank you.
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