Gospel Reflection Jan 17 – Fr. Lynch

Sunday, January 19

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

John 2:1-11

Gospel:

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.

Gospel Reflection:

This week’s Gospel is a loaded Gospel. On this Second Sunday of Ordinary time, we celebrate the first publicly recorded miracle of Jesus’ mission and focus on 3 important aspects:

1) The Blessed Mother, concerned with embarrassment for her family, tells Jesus to change water into wine.

2) Jesus obeys his mother, Mary.

3) Jesus performs his first miracle in public which begins his 3 years of ministry.

Imagine it was like 2000 years ago — there were no cars, planes, trains, internet, or apps, so a Wedding was a BIG deal! Often families would travel by caravan, on foot, by donkey and horse. The wedding was followed by a reception that would last a good week, because families may not get to see each other again for a long time. It was the responsibility of the Bride and Groom to make sure their guests/family were taken care of, fed, housed etc. So, to run out of food or drink (wine) would be embarrassing for the family hosting everyone as they are celebrating the marriage.

The word “obey” comes from the Latin verb “oboedio”, which means “to listen, to obey.” Adam and Eve failed at obeying God, at listening and following him. Jesus is obedient to his mother. Jesus saying “yes” to Mary, his obedience to his mother, is in accord with God’s plan for our salvation. Jesus’ “yes” follows Mary’s “yes,” when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary long ago and revealed God’s plan for our salvation. Jesus’ act of obedience is what Adam and Eve failed at and sinned in being disobedient to God.

Jesus and Mary are not simply the new Adam and Eve, completing what Adam and Eve failed to do by being obedient. Jesus is also the Son of God, not God’s first created (Adam), but rather the Word of God, the second person of the Trinity, who became flesh and dwelt among us. Mary is the New Eve, and where Eve was titled “Mother of the Earth,” Mary is titled “Mother of God,” a far greater title which we celebrate every year on Jan. 1st.

Do you believe that Jesus turned water into wine? Mary believed he would, everyone else had to wait, taste and see!

Let us follow the greatest example of faith and discipleship in our Blessed Mother, who followed Jesus all the way to the Cross, and who always brings us closer to Him. St. Brigid of Kildare, pray for us!

Father Lynch