Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 01-17-16, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 01-17-16 | Revised New American Bible

[Salvation]

January 17, 2016

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Is 62:1-5

For Zion's sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you "Forsaken, "
or your land "Desolate, "
but you shall be called "My Delight, "
and your land "Espoused."
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

R. (3) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Reading 2 1 Cor 12:4-11

Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

Alleluia cf. 2 Thes 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 2:1-11

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.

[Salvation]

Arlington Catholic Herald

GOSPEL COMMENTARY JN 2:1-11

'Do whatever He tells you'

Fr. Robert Wagner

The church puts forth the Blessed Virgin Mary as the model of prayerful intercession. We fly to her patronage with our petitions, knowing that she can present them to her Son, Jesus Christ, as only a beloved mother could. At the wedding feast at Cana, we witness Our Lady do just this as she interceded for the hosts of the wedding party when they ran out of wine. Not only that, but Mary was not asked to intercede; she did it from her own concern for the married couple. Knowing we have such an attentive and loving Mother looking out for our needs on earth should fill our hearts with joy.

When Mary approached Jesus about the lack of wine, we sense that He was hesitant. He told His Mother, "My hour has not yet come," leaving the impression that there is no turning back from this miracle. By performing this public divine act, Jesus would set in motion His mission to save the world from sin and open the gates to eternal life. It was a mission that ultimately included His Passion and death on Good Friday, so perhaps Our Lord's hesitation here is the same He experienced praying in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done" (Lk 22:42).

Despite the hesitation, Mary encouraged her Son to begin His salvific mission with one simple command. Interestingly, this command was not directed at her Son. Instead, she spoke to the waiters at the feast, telling them, "Do whatever he tells you." These are the last words of Mary recorded in the Gospel, and fittingly, they teach us what is important in our own lives. We are called to listen to Jesus as He speaks to us through our prayers, through contemplation of Scriptures and through the teaching of His church. Then, having heard Him, we are at our best when, like the waiters at the wedding feast, we do whatever He tells us.

By directing her command to the waiters, Mary teaches us another lesson: our need to be detached from our intentions once we offer them to Jesus. While it may appear that Mary forced her Son to act on her behalf by directing the waiters, by her command she also removed herself and her intention from the situation. Mary freed Jesus to act as He sees fit. If it was not His hour, that was for Him to decide. He could have told the waiters anything or nothing at all. Mary was not going to tell Her Divine Son what to do or how to do it. As retired Pope Benedict XVI said of this account, "Mary leaves everything to the Lord's judgment ... This is how she teaches us to pray: not by seeking to assert before God our own will and our own desires, however important they may be, however reasonable they might appear to us, but rather to bring them before Him and to let Him decide what He intends to do" (Homily at Kapellplatz, Altötting, Germany, Sept. 11, 2007).

Each of us faces situations in which we want God to intervene, whether they be our own struggles or those of a loved one. In these cases, we not only have a desired outcome, we also have a desired means of acquiring that outcome with a timeline associated with it. Or perhaps there are situations that we feel are beyond God's ability to fix, and so we sit back and do not approach Him. Perhaps this was the attitude of the hosts of the wedding feast who may have noticed the lack of wine and despaired that there was nothing to be done at that point. Whatever the case, Mary, the handmaiden of the Lord, teaches us how to pray. We should bring our petitions to God and then trust that He has the best way to address them. When God's will is fulfilled in the manner in which He desires, all will be well. We need look no further than the abundance of the finest wine at the wedding feast at Cana. This is a sign to us of how blessed we are when we place our prayers and our lives in the hands of God, ready to do whatever He tells us and trust in His divine providence.

Let us pray that Our Lady grant us the grace to share in her attentiveness to the needs of others, her faith in the power of Her Son and her docility to the will of God.

Fr. Wagner is Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde's secretary.

[Salvation]

http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=44

Year C - 2nd Sunday in ordinary time

Do whatever He tells you
John 2:1-11
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it.
9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom
10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
At the beginning of creation there was Adam and Eve. God was pleased with them and sanctified their union by his blessing, therefore instituting the sacrament of union between a man and a woman, which is the foundation of the human race.

At the beginning of my ministry I was pleased to bless this holy sacrament of matrimony once again, by my presence at the wedding of Canna where I performed my first public miracle.

Let the children come to me, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, do not stop them in the womb, do not destroy human life which God loves so much. I am Life; I rejoice so much at the birth of a new infant.

In my humanity, I was a bit reluctant to start my public ministry which would involve proclaiming my Word, healing the sick, casting out devils and doing many works of mercy for the salvation of men but eventually taking me straight into my sacrifice in Calvary. My mother knew about it and She suggested indirectly that I should do something for that couple and at the same time encouraged me to accomplish my mission. Her request touched my heart and to demonstrate that I will always act at the petition of my mother, I converted the water into wine.

This first miracle was also a testimony of my power as God. It was to demonstrate that I have the power to change not only the elements, but to forgive, to give life, to raise what has come from the dust and to change it into light.

Just as I transformed the water into wine, I consecrated the bread and the wine to be my flesh and my blood, in the sacrament of your salvation.

There is nothing impossible for me to do. Trust in me, allow me to transform your material existence into the spiritual reality, which I have to offer.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

[Salvation]

Archdiocese of Washington

Biblical Basics about Mother Mary -- A Homily for the Second Sunday of the Year

Msgr. Charles Pope January 16, 2016

In the gospel today of the wedding feast at Cana, there is a theological portrait of both Mother Mary and of prayer. Let's look at the Gospel along five lines:

I. The place that Mary has - The text says, 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.

A fascinating thing about these opening verses is that Mary almost seems to dominate the scene; the presence of Jesus is mentioned secondarily. St. Thomas Aquinas notes that at Cana, Mary acts as the "go-between" in arranging a mystical marriage (Commentary on John, 98; and 2, 1, n.336, 338, and 343, 151-152). Once the marriage is arranged she steps back; her final words to us are, "Do whatever he tells you."

How many of us has Mary helped to find her Son and to find our place at the wedding feast of the Lamb? I know that it was Mary who drew me back to her Son when I had strayed.

II. The prayer that Mary makes - The text says, When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."

Notice another central role that Mary has: intercessor. She is praying for others to her Son. There are three qualities to her prayer:

Discernment -- She notices the problem, probably even before the groom and bride do. Indeed, mothers often notice the needs of their children before they do. But why didn't Jesus notice? Perhaps He did; surely, as God, He knew. But He waits for us to ask. Yes, God waits for us; He expects us to ask. In part this is respect; not all of us are ready to receive all of His gifts. This expectation that we ask is also rooted in God's teaching that we must learn to depend on Him and to take our many needs to Him. The Book of James says, You have not because You ask not (James 4:2).

Diligence -- Simply put, Mary actually prays. Rather than merely fret and be anxious, she goes directly to her Son out of love for the couple (us) and trust in her Son. She sees the need and gets right to the work of praying, of beseeching her Son.

Deference -- She does not tell Jesus what to do, says simply notes the need: "They have no wine." Mary is not directive, as if to say, "Here is my solution for this problem. Follow my plans exactly. Just sign here at the bottom of my plan for action." Rather, she simply observes the problem and places it before her Son in confidence. He knows what to do and will decide the best way to handle things.

In this way Mary models prayer for us. What wine are you lacking now? What wine do your children and grandchildren lack? Do you notice your needs and the needs of others and consistently pray? Or must things get critical for you to notice or pray? And when you pray do you go to the Lord with trust or with your own agenda?

So the Scriptures teach that Mary is the quintessential woman of prayer, a paragon of prayer. Not only does she intercede for us, she teaches us how to pray.

III. The portrait of Mary - The text says, Woman, how does this concern of yours affect me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." Notice three things about this brief dialogue:

The title of Mary -- Jesus calls her "woman." In Jewish culture this was a respectful way for a man to address a woman, but it was unheard of for a son to address his mother that way.

Hence this text stands out as unusual and signals that Jesus is speaking at a deeper level. In the Johannine texts Jesus always calls his Mother, "Woman." This is in fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, which says, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, while you strike at his heel. And thus Jesus is saying that Mary is this woman who was prophesied.

Far from being disrespectful to Mary, Jesus is actually exalting her by saying that she is the woman who was prophesied; she is the woman from whose "seed" comes forth the Son destined to destroy the power of Satan.

In this sense Mary is also the new Eve. For Jesus also calls her "Woman" at the foot of the Cross; He is the new Adam, Mary is the new Eve, and the tree is the Cross. And thus, just as humans got into trouble by a man, a woman, and a tree, so now we get out of trouble through the same path. Adam's no is reversed by Jesus, who saves us by his yes. Eve's no is reversed by Mary's yes.

The tenacity of Mary - In Greek, Jesus' words to his mother are, τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, γύναι - ti emoi kai soi, gunai (What to me and to thee, Woman?). When this phrase appears elsewhere in the Scriptures (e.g., Gen 23:15; 1 Kings 19:20) it usually indicates some kind of tension between the interlocutors. On the surface, it would seem that Jesus is expressing resistance to the fact that His mother striving to involve Him in this matter. What makes this interpretation odd, though, is that Mary doesn't seem to interpret Jesus' response as resistance.

Perhaps there was something in the tone of voice that Jesus used, or perhaps there was a look between them that resolved the tension, and evoked Jesus' sympathy for the situation. Whatever the case, Mary stays in the conversation with Jesus and overcomes whatever tension or resistance existed. In this we surely see her tenacity.

This tenacity comports well with the tenacity she showed at other times. Though startled by the presence of the angel Gabriel, she engaged him in a respectful but pointed conversation in which she sought greater detail. Mary also hastened to visit her cousin Elizabeth, and in the dialogue that followed she proclaimed a Magnificat that was anything but a shy and retiring prayer. She joyfully acknowledged the Lord's power in her life, and all but proclaimed a revolutionary new world order.

To be tenacious means to hold fast in spite of obstacles or discouragements. However we interpret Jesus' initial resistance to Mary's concern, it is clear that Mother Mary does not give up; she expects the Lord to answer her favorably. This is made clear by her confident departure from the conversation, when she turns to the stewards with the instruction, "Do whatever he tells you."

The trust of Mary - She simply departs, telling the stewards, "Do whatever he tells you." She does not hover. She does not come back and check on the progress of things. She does not seek to control or manipulate the outcome. She simply departs and leaves it all to Jesus.

IV. The power of Mary's prayer - Whatever his initial concerns regarding Mary's request, Jesus goes to work. 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."

If we do the math, we may confidently presume that Jesus produced almost 150 gallons of the best wine. Mary's prayer and tenacity produced abundant results.

Sometimes the Lord tells us to wait so that He can grant further abundance. Scripture says, But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

The Catholic tradition of turning to Mary and regarding her as a special intercessor with particular power is rooted in this passage. But Mary is not merely an intercessor for us; she is also a model for us. Following her example, we should persevere in prayer and go to the Lord with confident expectation of His abundant response. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).

V. The product of Mary's prayer - The text says, 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.

At the conclusion of this gospel is the significant result that many began to believe in the Lord on account of this miracle. This is Mary's essential role with reference to Jesus, that she should lead many souls to a deeper union with her Son. And having done so, she leaves us with this instruction, "Do whatever he tells you."

Mary's role is to hold up Christ for us to see, as she did at Bethlehem for the shepherds (and later the Wise Men) and as she did for Simeon and Anna at the Temple. Her role is to point to His glory as she does here at Cana. And ultimately her role is to hold His body in her arms at the foot of the cross after He is taken down.

As a mother, Mary has a special role in the beginnings of our faith, in the infancy and childhood of our faith. The text says that many "began to believe." In Greek grammar, this phrase is an example of an inceptive aorist, often used to stress the beginning of an action or the entrance into a state. Thus Mary has a special role in helping to initiate our faith, in helping (by God's grace) to birth Christ in us. As St. Thomas Aquinas say, she is the "go-between," the great matchmaker in the mystical marriage of Christ and the soul. Having done that her final words are, "Do whatever he tells you." And while she may draw back a bit, she continues to pray for us.

Here, then, are some biblical basics about Mother Mary, from this gospel of the wedding feast at Cana.

[Salvation]

Video

[Salvation]

Sunday Gospel Reflections

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Isaiah 62:1-5 II: 1Cor 12:4-11

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Gospel
John 2:1-12

¹ On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
² Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.
³ When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
⁴ And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come."
⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
⁶ Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
⁷ Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.
⁸ He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it.
⁹ When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom
¹⁰ and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."
¹¹ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
¹² After this he went down to Caper'na-um, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days.

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Interesting Details

• John's Gospel, a book of signs, is in many ways a Christian Genesis, a story of re-creation. The miracle at Cana is referred to as the first of Jesus' "signs" that leads His disciples to believe in Him, Jesus the Messiah (v.11).
• Jesus replaces the Jewish purification (v.6) with an abundance of wine of excellent quality. Wine represents His wisdom and teaching (Prov 9:1-5).
• (v.1) "The third day" for Christians is an expression of the period between Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. In the Hebrew scriptures, the third day is a common term in the Pentateuch and the Deuteronomic history (Ex 19: 10-11 ... because on the 3rd day the Lord will come down upon Mt. Sinai in the sight of all the people). On the third day of Jesus' public appearance (two days after the call of the first disciples), Jesus reveals His glory with the miracles at Cana.
• The changing of water to wine took place before Passover (v.13), the same time that Jesus would change wine into His eucharistic blood two years later.
• In the Hebrew scriptures the wedding itself was a common prophetic image for the final healing of God's relationship with the Chosen people. (Isa 62:4-5 expresses it: "... for the Lord delights in you and your land shall be married, ... so shall your builder marry you...").
• (v.4) "Woman" is rather like "lady" or "madam"; it is a formal way of speaking. On the Cross, Jesus will use the same word with great affection and veneration (Jn 19:26).
• In calling His mother "woman", Jesus may well be identifying her with the new Eve who will be the mother of His disciples as to the old Eve "the mother of all the living" (Gen 3:20). In this light we can compare the woman in the Garden of Eden who led Adam to the first evil act (Gen 3:6) with the Woman at Cana who leads the new Adam to His glorious work.
• "Hour" is a key word in John's gospel; it is the time of judgment, of darkness, of death, of ultimate fidelity and of resurrection (Jn 5:28, 7:30, 12:23, 13:1, 17:1). Verse 4 reminds the reader that during Jesus' public life, until His hour came, His work was determined solely by the Father's will.

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One Main Point

The changing of Old Testament water into messianic wine signifies the passing of the old into the new. The messianic era has arrived.

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Reflections

1. You are there when Mary goes to Jesus for help. What does this tell you about her character? What do you learn from her?
2. Do you think Jesus is upset with His mother? Do you think you understand Him?
3. Is there a time in your life when the "wine" ran out? How has Jesus replenished it for you?

[Salvation]

'He who loves God neither distresses nor is distressed with anyone on account of transitory things. There is only one kind of distress which he both suffers and inflicts on others: that salutary distress which the blessed Paul suffered and which he inflicted on the Corinthians (cf. 2 Cor. 7:8-11).'

St. Maximos the Confessor

[Salvation]

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:  And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.  Hail Mary . . .  And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.  Hail Mary . . .  Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Let us pray:  Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.  "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)   "Blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42).

[annalex]

John
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	John 2
1.	AND the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there.	Et die tertia nuptiæ factæ sunt in Cana Galilææ, et erat mater Jesu ibi.	και τη ημερα τη τριτη γαμος εγενετο εν κανα της γαλιλαιας και ην η μητηρ του ιησου εκει
2.	And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage.	Vocatus est autem et Jesus, et discipuli ejus, ad nuptias.	εκληθη δε και ο ιησους και οι μαθηται αυτου εις τον γαμον
3.	And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine.	Et deficiente vino, dicit mater Jesu ad eum : Vinum non habent.	και υστερησαντος οινου λεγει η μητηρ του ιησου προς αυτον οινον ουκ εχουσιν
4.	And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come.	Et dicit ei Jesus : Quid mihi et tibi est, mulier ? nondum venit hora mea.	λεγει αυτη ο ιησους τι εμοι και σοι γυναι ουπω ηκει η ωρα μου
5.	His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.	Dicit mater ejus ministris : Quodcumque dixerit vobis, facite.	λεγει η μητηρ αυτου τοις διακονοις ο τι αν λεγη υμιν ποιησατε
6.	Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece.	Erant autem ibi lapideæ hydriæ sex positæ secundum purificationem Judæorum, capientes singulæ metretas binas vel ternas.	ησαν δε εκει υδριαι λιθιναι εξ κειμεναι κατα τον καθαρισμον των ιουδαιων χωρουσαι ανα μετρητας δυο η τρεις
7.	Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.	Dicit eis Jesus : Implete hydrias aqua. Et impleverunt eas usque ad summum.	λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους γεμισατε τας υδριας υδατος και εγεμισαν αυτας εως ανω
8.	And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it.	Et dicit eis Jesus : Haurite nunc, et ferte architriclinio. Et tulerunt.	και λεγει αυτοις αντλησατε νυν και φερετε τω αρχιτρικλινω και ηνεγκαν
9.	And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom,	Ut autem gustavit architriclinius aquam vinum factam, et non sciebat unde esset, ministri autem sciebant, qui hauserant aquam : vocat sponsum architriclinius,	ως δε εγευσατο ο αρχιτρικλινος το υδωρ οινον γεγενημενον και ουκ ηδει ποθεν εστιν οι δε διακονοι ηδεισαν οι ηντληκοτες το υδωρ φωνει τον νυμφιον ο αρχιτρικλινος
10.	And saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now.	et dicit ei : Omnis homo primum bonum vinum ponit et cum inebriati fuerint, tunc id, quod deterius est. Tu autem servasti bonum vinum usque adhuc.	και λεγει αυτω πας ανθρωπος πρωτον τον καλον οινον τιθησιν και οταν μεθυσθωσιν τοτε τον ελασσω συ τετηρηκας τον καλον οινον εως αρτι
11.	This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.	Hoc fecit initium signorum Jesus in Cana Galilææ ; et manifestavit gloriam suam, et crediderunt in eum discipuli ejus.	ταυτην εποιησεν την αρχην των σημειων ο ιησους εν κανα της γαλιλαιας και εφανερωσεν την δοξαν αυτου και επιστευσαν εις αυτον οι μαθηται αυτου

[annalex]

1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine.
4. Jesus said to her, Woman, what have I to do with you? My hour is not yet come.

CHRYS. Our Lord being known in Galilee, they invite Him to a marriage: And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee.

ALCUIN. Galilee is a province; Cana a village in it.

CHRYS. They invite our Lord to the marriage, not as a great person, but merely as one they knew, one of the many; for which reason the Evangelist says, And the mother of Jesus was there. As they invited the mother, so they invited the Son: and therefore,

Jesus was called, and His disciples to the marriage: and He came, as caring more for our good, shall His own dignity. He who disdained not to take upon Him the form of a servant, disdained not to come to the marriage of servants.

AUG. Let the proud man blush to see the humility of God. Lo, among other things, the Son of the Virgin comes to a marriage; He who, when He was with the Father, instituted marriage.

BEDE. His condescension in coming to the marriage, and the miracle He wrought there, are, even considering them in the letter only, a strong confirmation of the a faith. Therein too are condemned the errors of Tatian, Marcion, and others who detract from the honor of marriage. For if the undefiled bed, and the marriage celebrated with due chastity, partook at all of sin, our Lord would never have come to one. Whereas now, conjugal chastity being good, the continence of widows better, the perfection of the virgin state best, to sanction all these degrees, but distinguish the merit of each, He deigned to be born of the pure womb of the Virgin; was blessed after birth by the prophetic voice of the widow Anna; and now invited in manhood to attend the celebration of a marriage, honors that also by the presence of His goodness.

AUG. What marvel, if He went to that house to a marriage, Who came into this world to a marriage. For here He has His spouse whom He redeemed with His own blood, to whom He gave the pledge of the Spirit, and whom He united to Himself in the womb of the Virgin. For the Word is the Bridegroom, and human flesh the bride, and both together are one Son of God and Son of man. That womb of the Virgin Mary is His chamber, from which he went forth as a bridegroom.

BEDE. Nor is it without some mysterious allusion, that the marriage is related as taking place on the third day. The first age of the world, before the giving of the Law, was enlightened by the example of the Patriarchs; the second, under the Law, by the writings of the Prophets; the third, under grace, by the preaching of the Evangelists, as if by the light of the third day; for our Lord had now appeared in the flesh. The name of the place too where the marriage was held, Cana of Galilee, which means, desire of migrating, has a typical signification, viz. that those are most worthy of Christ, who burn with devotional desires, and have known the passage from vice to virtue, from earthly to eternal things.

The wine was made to fail, to give our Lord the opportunity of making better; that so the glory of God in man might be brought out of its hiding place: And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no wine.

CHRYS. But how came it into the mother's mind to expect so great a thing from her Son? for he had done no miracle as yet: as we read afterwards This beginning of miracles did Jesus. His real nature, however, was beginning now to be revealed by John, and His own conversations with His disciples; besides that His conception, and the circumstances of His birth, had from the first given rise to high expectations in her mind: as Luke tells us, His mother kept all these sayings in her heart. Why then did she never ask Him to work a miracle before? Because the time had now come that He should be made known. Before He had lived so much like an ordinary person, that she had not had the confidence to ask Him. But now that she heard that John had borne witness to Him, and that He had disciples, she asks Him confidently.

ALCUIN. She represents here the Synagogue, which challenges Christ to perform a miracle. It was customary with the Jews to ask for miracles.

Jesus said to her, Woman, what have I to do with you?

AUG. Some who derogate from the Gospel, and say that Jesus was not born of the Virgin Mary, try to draw an argument for their error from this place; for, how, say they, could she be His mother to whom He said, What have I to do with you? Now who is it who gives this account, and on whose authority do we believe it? The Evangelist John. But he himself says, The mother of Jesus was there. Why should He say it, unless both were true. But did He therefore come to the marriage to teach men to despise their mother?

CHRYS. That He greatly venerated His mother, we know from St. Luke, who tells us that He was subject unto His parents. For where parents throw no obstacle in the way of God's commands, it is our duty to be subject to them; but when they demand any thing at an unseasonable time, or cut us off from spiritual things, we should not be deceived into compliance.

AUG. To mark a distinction between His Godhead and manhood, that according to His manhood He was inferior and subject, but according to His Godhead supreme, He said, Woman, what have I to do with you?

CHRYS. And for another reason, viz. to prevent any suspicion attaching to His miracles: for these it was proper should be asked for by those who wanted them, not by His mother. He wished to show them that He would perform all in their proper time, not all at once, to prevent confusion; for He said, Mine hour is not yet come; i.e. I am not yet known to the persons present; nay, they know not that the wine has failed; let them find out that first; he who perceives not his want beforehand, will not perceive when his want is supplied.

AUG. Or it was because our Lord as God had not a mother, though as man He had, and the miracle He was about to work was the act of His Divinity, not of human infirmity. When therefore His mother demanded a miracle, He, as though not acknowledging a human birth, when about to perform a divine work, said, Woman, what have I to do with you? As if He said, You did not beget that in Me, which works the miracle, My Divinity. (She is called woman, with reference to the female sex, not to any injury of her virginity.) But because you brought forth My infirmity, I will acknowledge you then, when that very infirmity shall hang on the cross. And therefore He adds, Mine hour is not yet come: as if to say, I will acknowledge you when the infirmity, of which you are the mother, shall hang from the cross. He commended His mother to the disciple, when about to die, and to rise again, before her death. But note; just as the Manicheans have found an occasion of error and pretext for their faithlessness in our Lord's word, What have I to do with you? in the same way the astrologers support theirs from the words, Mine hour is not yet come. For, say they, if Christ had not been under the power of fate, He would never have said this. But let them believe what hat God says below, I have power to lay it (my life) down, and I have power to take it again: and then let them ask, why He says, Mine hour is not yet come: nor let them on such a ground subject the Creator of heaven to fate; seeing that, even were there a fatality in the stars, the Maker of the stars could not be under the dominion of the stars. And not only had Christ nothing to do with fate, as you call it; but neither have you, or any other man. Wherefore said He then, Mine hour is not yet come? Because He had the power to die when He pleased, but did not think it expedient yet to exert the power He was to call the disciples; to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven, to do marvelous works, to approve His divinity by miracles, His humility by partaking of the sufferings of our mortal state. And when He had done all, then the hour was come, not of destiny, but of will, not of obligation, but of power.

5. His mother said to the servants, Whatsoever he says to you, do it.
6. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7. Jesus said to them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8. And he said to them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bore it.
9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10. And said to him, Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but you have kept the good wine until now.
11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

CHRYS. Although He had said, Mine hour is not yet come, He afterwards did what His mother told Him, in order to show plainly, that He was not under subjection to the hour. For if He was, how could He have done this miracle before the hour appointed for it? In the next place, He wished to show honor to His mother, and make it appear that He did not go counter to her eventually. He would not put her to shame in the presence of so many; especially as she had sent the servants to Him, that the petition might come from a number, and not from herself only; His mother said to the servants, Whatsoever He says to you, do it.

BEDE; As if she said, Though He appear to refuse, He will do it nevertheless. She knew His pity and mercifulness. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Hydriae are vessels to hold water: hydor being the Greek for water.

ALCUIN. Vessels to hold water were there, after the manner of the purifying of Jews. Among other traditions of the Pharisees, they observed frequent washings

CHRYS Palestine being a dry country, with few fountains or wells, they used to fill waterpots with water, to prevent the necessity of going to the river, if they were unclean, and to have materials for washing at hand. To prevent any unbeliever from suspecting that a very thin wine was made by the dregs having been left in the vessels, and water poured in upon them, He says expressly, According to the manner of the purifying of the Jews: which shows that those vessels were never used to hold wine.

AUG. A firkin is a certain measure; as urn, amphora, and the like. Metron is the Greek for measure: whence metreta. Two or three, is not to be taken to mean some holding two, others three, but the same vessels holding two or three.

Jesus said to them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

CHRYS. But why did He not perform the miracle before they had filled the waterpots, which would have been much more wonderful; inasmuch as it is one thing to change the quality of some existing substance, another to make it that substance out of nothing? The latter miracle would be the more wonderful, but the former would be the more easy of belief.

And this principle often acts as a check, to moderate the greatness of our Lord's miracles: He wishes to make them more credible, therefore He makes them less marvelous; a refutation this of the perverse doctrine of some, that He was a different Being from the Maker of the world. For we see He performs most of His miracles upon subject-matter already existing, whereas were He contrary to the Creator of the world, He would not use a material thus alien, to demonstrate His own power.

He did not draw out the water Himself which He made wine, but ordered the servants to do so. This was for the sake of having witnesses of the miracle; And He said to them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.

ALCUIN. The Triclinium is a circle of three couches, cline signifying couch: the ancients used to recline upon couches. And the Architriclinus is the one at the head of the Triclinium, i.e. the chief of the guests. Some say that among the Jews, He was a priest, and attended the marriage in order to instruct in the duties of the married state.

CHRYS Or thus; It might be said that the guests were drunken, and could not, in the confusion of their senses, tell whether it were water or wine. But this objection could not be brought against the attendants, who must have been sober, being occupied wholly in performing the duties of their service gracefully and in order. Our Lord therefore bid the attendants bear to the governor of the feast; who again would of course be perfectly sober. He did not say, Give to the guests to drink.

HILARY; Water is poured into the waterpots; wine is drawn out into the chalices; the senses of the drawer out agree not with the knowledge of the pourer in. The pourer in thinks that water is drawn out; the drawer out thinks that wine was poured in. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants who drew the water knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom. It was not a mixture, but a creation: the simple nature of water vanished, and the flavor of wine was produced; not that a weak dilution was obtained, by means of some strong infusion, but that which was, was annihilated; and that which was not, came to be.

CHRYS. Our Lord wished the power of His miracles to be seen gradually; and therefore He did not reveal what He had done Himself, nor did the ruler of the feast call upon the servants to do so; (for no credit would have been given to such testimony concerning a mere man, as our Lord was supposed to be,) but He called the bridegroom, who was best able to see what was done. Christ moreover did not only make wine, but the best wine. And (the ruler of the feast) said to him, Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but you have kept the good wine until now. The effects of the miracles of Christ are more beautiful and better than the productions of nature. So then that the water was made wine, the servants could testify; that it was made good wine, the ruler of the feast and the bridegroom.

It is probable that the bridegroom made some answer; but the Evangelist omits it, only mentioning what it was necessary for us to know, viz. the water being made wine. He adds, This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee. It was very necessary to work miracles just then, when His devoted disciples were all collected, and present at the place, attending to what was going on.

ID. Should any say that there is not sufficient proof of this being the beginning of miracles, because it is added, in Cana of Galilee, as if some had been preferred elsewhere: we answer, as we did before, that John says below, That He might be made manifest to Israel, therefore have I come baptizing. Now if He had performed miracles in the earlier part of His life, the Jews would not have wanted another person to point Him out. If our Lord in a short time became so distinguished for the number of His miracles, that His Name was known to every one, would He not have been much more so, had He worked miracles from His earliest years? for the things themselves would have been the more extraordinary, being performed by a Child, and in so long a time must have become notorious. It was fit and proper however that He should not begin to work miracles at so early an age: for men would have thought the Incarnation a fantasy, and in the extremity of envy would have delivered Him to be crucified before the appointed time.

AUG. This miracle of our Lord's, turning the water into wine, is no miracle to those who know that God worked it. For the Same that day made wine in the waterpots, Who every year makes wine in the vine: only the latter is no longer wonderful, because it happens uniformly. And therefore it is that God keeps some extraordinary acts in store for certain occasions, to rouse men out of their lethargy, and make them worship Him. Thus it follows, He manifested forth His glory.

ALCUIN. He was the King of glory, and changed the elements because He was their Lord.

CHRYS. He manifests His glory, as far as related to His own act; and if at the time many knew it not, yet was it afterwards to be heard and known of all. And His disciples believed in Him. It was probable that these would believe more readily, and give more attention to what went on.

AUG. If now for the first time they believed on Him, they were not His disciples when they came to the marriage. This however is a form of speech, such as saying that the Apostle Paul was born in Tarsus of Cilicia; not meaning by this that he was an Apostle then. In the same way when we hear of Christ's disciples being invited to the marriage, we should understand not disciples already, but who were to be disciples.

AUG. But see the mysteries which lie hid in that miracle of our Lord. It was necessary that all things should be fulfilled in Christ which were written of Him: those Scriptures were the water. He made the water wine when He opened to them the meaning of these things, and expounded the Scriptures; for thus that came to have a taste which before had none, and that inebriated, which did not inebriate before.

BEDE; At the time of our Lord's appearing in the flesh, the sweet vinous taste of the law had been weakened by the carnal interpretations of the Pharisees.

AUG. Now if He ordered the water to be poured out, and then introduced the wine from the hidden recesses of creation, He would seem to have rejected the Old Testament. But converting, as He did, the water into wine, He showed us that the Old Testament was from Himself; for it was as by His order that the waterpots were filled. But those Scriptures have no meaning, if Christ be not understood there. Now we know from what time the law dates, viz. from the foundation of the world. From that time to this are six ages; the first reckoning from Adam to Noah; the second, from Noah to Abraham; the third, from Abraham to David; the fourth, from David to the carrying away into Babylon; the fifth, from that time to John the Baptist; the sixth, from John the Baptist to the end of the world. The six waterpots then denote these six ages of prophecy. The prophecies are fulfilled; the waterpots are full. But what is the meaning of their holding two or three firkins apiece? Had He said three only, our minds would have run immediately to the mystery of the Trinity. Nor perhaps can we reject it, even though it is said, two or three: for the Father and the Son being named, the Holy Ghost may be understood by consequence; inasmuch as it is the love between the Father and the Son, which is the Holy Ghost. Nor should we pass over another interpretation, which makes the two firkins alluded to the two races of men, the Jews and the Greeks; and the three to the three sons of Noah.

ALCUIN. The servants are the doctors of the New Testament, who interpret the holy Scripture to others spiritually; the ruler of the feast is some lawyer, as Nicodemus, Gamaliel, or Saul. When to the former then is committed the word of the Gospel, hid under the letter of the law, it is the water made wine, being set before the ruler of the feast. And the three rows of guests at table in the house of the marriage are properly mentioned; the Church consisting of three orders of believers, the married, the continent, and the doctors. Christ has kept the good wine until now, i.e. He has deferred the Gospel till this, the sixth age.

Catena Aurea John 2

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The Wedding at Cana

Giusto de' Menabuoi

1376-78
Fresco
Baptistry, Padua

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St. Anthony, Abbot

Saint Anthony, abbot
Memorial
January 17th

Fra Angelico
Saint Anthony the Abbot Tempted by a Lump of Gold
c. 1436 -- Tempera on panel
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Called the Patriarch of Monks, St. Anthony (251-356) retired to the desert when he was eighteen years old. He was the first abbot to form a stable rule for his family of monks dedicated to the Divine Service. His talents at spiritual direction were famous, and many people traveled to the desert to seek his advise.

Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003

 

Collect:
O God, who brought the Abbot Saint Anthony
to serve you by a wondrous way of life in the desert,
grant, through his intercession,that, denying ourselves,
we may always love you above all things.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

First Reading: Ephesians 6:10-13, 18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 19:16-26
And behold, one came up to Him[Jesus], saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments". He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself". The young man said to Him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me". When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God". When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

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Saint of the Week: The Hermit Who Lived For 15 Years in a Tomb
St. Anthony [Of the Desert] (Founder and father of organized Christian monasticism)
Our Holy Father Antony ]St. Anthong of the Desert]
Orthodox Feast of St. Anthony the Great, January 17
Saint Anthony, Abbot [Antony of the Desert][Anthony of Egypt]

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Information: St. Anthony the Abbot

Feast Day: January 17

Born: 251, Herakleopolis Magna, Egypt

Died: 356, Mount Colzim, Egypt

Major Shrine: Monastery of Anthony, Egypt; Vienna, Austria

His body was at Saint-Antoine l'Abbaye, Isère, France

Patron of: against pestilence; amputees; animals; basket makers; basket weavers; brushmakers; butchers; cemetery workers; domestic animals; eczema; epilepsy; epileptics; ergotism; erysipelas; gravediggers; graveyards; hermits; hogs; Hospitallers; monks; pigs; relief from pestilence; shingles; skin diseases; skin rashes; swine; swineherds

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Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Anthony of Egypt

Feast Day: January 17

St. Anthony was born at Heracleus in Egypt. When he was twenty years old, his parents died. They left him a large estate and placed him in charge of the care of his young sister. Anthony felt overwhelmed and turned to God in prayer.

He soon became more and more aware of the power of God in his life. About six months later, he heard this quotation of Jesus from the Gospel: "Go, sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven" (Mark 10:21).

He took the words as a personal message in answer to his prayer for guidance. He made sure that his sister completed her education, then sold his house, furniture, and the land he owned and gave the money to the poor and to the people who needed it.

Anthony's sister joined a group of women living a life of prayer and contemplation. Anthony decided to become a hermit. He begged an elderly hermit to teach him the spiritual life. Anthony also visited other hermits so he could learn each one's most outstanding virtue.

Then at the age of thirty-five he moved alone to the desert, living in an abandoned fort and began his own life of prayer and penance alone with God.

By the time he was fifty-five, people found out where he was and began coming to him for healing and for spiritual counseling. Finally, Anthony built two monasteries on the Nile, one at Pispir and one at Arsinoe. The monks and people who lived around him supported themselves by making and selling baskets and brushes.

Many people heard of him and came to him looking for advice. He would give them practical advice such as: "The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross."

St. Anthony visited Paul the hermit shortly before he died and helped dig a grave to bury him. He felt enriched by the example of Paul's holy life.

Anthony died after a long, prayerful life in 356. He was 105. St. Athanasius wrote a well known biography of St. Anthony of Egypt.

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Sunday

January 17, 2016

Pilgrimage as Transformation

“A pilgrimage is a journey to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion. A pilgrim is more than a tourist and pilgrimage is more than a journey. A pilgrim travels with a spiritual purpose, a goal to be closer to God. The practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the Holy Year, because it represents the journey each of us makes in this life. Life itself is a pilgrimage, and the human being is a “viator,” a pilgrim traveling along the road, making one’s way to the desired destination.”

To read the full explanation of pilgrimage, visit the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Tuesday, January 19, Pope Francis will celebrate the Jubilee of Pilgrimage Workers. This Jubilee event will serve to remind us all that this Year of Mercy is a true pilgrimage and should be lived as such by all. Visit Jubilee of Mercy.

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CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Sunday, January 17

Liturgical Color: White

On this day in 1377, Pope Gregory XI restored
the Holy See to Rome. This move was greatly
due to the urgings and prayers of St. Catherine
of Siena. Nine previous popes had taken
residence in Avignon France because of hostilities
in Rome.

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Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: January 17th

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

MASS READINGS

January 17, 2016 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Recipes (5)

• Bride's Cake I
• Bride's Cake II
• How to Cut a Four-Tiered Cake
• Italian Wedding Cookies
• Kourambiedhes Wedding Cakes

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Activities (1)

• Attending a Catholic Wedding

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Prayers (3)

• Married Couple's Prayer to the Sacred Heart
• Book of Blessings: Orders for the Blessing of a Married Couple
• Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Ordinary Time (2nd Plan)

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Library (1)

• Christian Marriage: a Covenant of Love and Life | Cardinal Bernard Law

» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!

Old Calendar: Second Sunday after Epiphany

On the third day there was a wedding in 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 (John 2:1-5)."

The feast of St. Anthony (abbot), which is ordinarily celebrated today, is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

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Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from Isaiah 62:1-5. Isaiah compares Yahweh to a young man who marries a virgin. His love transforms her. She used to be called "Forsaken". Now she has a new name, "My Delight".

The second reading is from the first Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 12:4-11 and teaches that God is the origin of spiritual gifts. The various graces which the members of the Church receive are a living reflection of God who, being essentially one, and so is a trinity of persons. Therefore, diversity of gifts and graces is as important as their basic unity, because all have the same divine origin and the same purpose—the common good. — Excerpted from The Navarre Bible, Corinthians

The Gospel is from John 2:1-12. There are many lessons we can learn from this incident in Christ's life: for example, Christ's approval of marriage–there were some heretical sects later who said marriage was sinful, unfit for a Christian. Or we could see in it the intercessory power of our blessed Mother. Christ anticipated his "hour" for working miracles in order to grant her request. But the theme of today's readings is the goodness 'and kindness of God and we surely have a convincing proof of that loving kindness in today's gospel story.

Christ worked his first miracle in order to grant a temporal favor, an earthly gift, to save the newly-married groom from embarrassment. It had the other effects of convincing his very recent disciples of their belief that he was the expected Messiah, and also it convinces all Christians of the efficacy of our Lady's intercession for us, but its primary purpose was to confer a temporal benefit on the groom.

By this kind act he has shown us that he is interested in our earthly affairs also. He became man in order that we could become sons of God, he came on earth so that we could go to heaven, but this miracle at Cana proves that he has a deep interest in our many and varied activities during the course of our journey to heaven.

He told us "ask and you shall receive." That "shall" is very definite, our prayers will be answered, and what we should ask for is not only spiritual gifts, but the temporal aids also which we need. The "shall" applies to them too, as the miracle of Cana proves. We shall get our temporal requests, provided of course that they won't impede us on our journey to heaven. No kind father would give his child a gift that would injure him–God is the kindest of fathers and he sees what will or will not impede or endanger our eternal happiness. We can and should therefore make our temporal needs known to God in our prayers, confident that he will give us what we ask if it is for our real good.

But, someone may object: how often have I asked God for temporal favors I needed so badly, and my prayer was unanswered? Was it unanswered really? Perhaps you did not get the exact thing you asked for but you got something more useful, more necessary, something you never thought of asking for, but the good God saw your need of it. We have a father in heaven who really loves us, and cares for us, let us make our temporal, as well as our spiritual needs, known to him in confident prayer. Our requests will not go unanswered.

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

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[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: John 2:1-11

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

They have no wine. (John 2:3)

This is one of those stories that appears only in the Gospel of John. No one is sure why John included it, but one thing is certain. It tells us about the faith of a very special woman, the Virgin Mary.

We can’t assume that Mary had first received Jesus’ permission before she told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). If anything, you might expect Mary to have been intimidated by her son’s stern response: “How does your concern affect me?” (2:4). Jesus told her that it was not the right time for him to get involved.

But John makes it clear that Mary is special. She could actually get Jesus to change his mind. John also shows us how much Jesus loved his mother and wanted to please her. He cared about the things that were important to her, even if it meant rescuing a party before the time had come for him to manifest himself.

Mary’s close relationship with Jesus is the primary reason why she is such a powerful intercessor. It’s why the Church invites us to go to her with all of our needs and ask her to “pray for us sinners.” You can just imagine the scene in heaven described by a popular legend: if Mary is talking to Jesus about the different prayer requests that people have entrusted to her, all the other saints have to wait until she is done before they bring their prayers to him. Mary always gets Jesus’ undivided attention!

Like the ascending and descending ladder in Jacob’s dream, Mary is a link between heaven and earth. She loves to take our intercessions and our petitions to Jesus. At the same time, she delights in receiving grace and blessings from heaven and planting them in our hearts.

So bring your needs to the one who is full of grace. And try your best to listen when she says, “Do whatever Jesus tells you.”

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.”

Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96:1-3, 7-10
1 Corinthians 12:4-11

John 2:1-11

January 17th, 2016

Questions for Reflection or Discussion

Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5
Responsorial: Psalm 96:1-3, 7-10
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-118
Gospel: John 2:1-11

1. In the first reading, we read that God “delights” and “rejoices” in his people. God’s joy is compared with the joy of a bridegroom in his bride. How would you describe how God has blessed your life? Does your life reflect a joy in what God has done for you? What steps can you take to increase your “joy in the Lord”?

2. In the Responsorial Psalm, we are encouraged to “announce” God’s salvation and “tell” others of his “glory” and “wondrous deeds.” What opportunities are available in your church, at work, in the community, or at home to bring Jesus Christ to others? Which of these opportunities can you follow up on in the coming weeks?

3. In the letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of the individual spiritual gifts we have each received from God. He goes on to say that: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” (1 Corinthians 12:7). How well do you know what spiritual gifts God has given you? What practical steps can you take to gain a greater understanding of these gifts?

4. St. Paul says these spiritual gifts are not just for us. God is asking us to share our “gifts” in order to build up the Church. What can you do, individually, or as a group, to make your “gifts” available to others, including your parish community?

5. In today’s Gospel, Mary’s great faith in Jesus is summed up in these words to the wine servers: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Our own faith is built up, as God touches us, and speaks to us, through our prayer and scripture reading and through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Have you ever experienced times when you sensed God was speaking a word to you in your heart? What was the impact on your life? What do you believe God is asking of you now?

6. In the Meditation, we hear these words regarding Mary: “Mary’s close relationship with Jesus is the primary reason why she is such a powerful intercessor. It’s why the Church invites us to go to her with all of our needs and ask her to ‘pray for us sinners.’” The meditation goes go to tell us that “Mary is a link between heaven and earth. She loves to take our intercessions and our petitions to Jesus. At the same time, she delights in receiving grace and blessings from heaven and planting them in our hearts. So bring your needs to the one who is full of grace. And try your best to listen when she says, ‘Do whatever Jesus tells you.’” When you “bring your needs” to Mary in prayer, why is it also important to do so with an expectant faith, believing that God hears our prayers and will respond even though we may not be sure of what the response will be?

7. Take some time now to pray and to “bring your needs to the one who is full of grace.” Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

THOUGH JESUS WORKED THE MIRACLE BY HIS POWER ALONE, HE DID SO IN COOPERATION WITH OTHERS

(A biblical reflection on the 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time [Year C], 17 January 2016)

Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalms: Psalm 96:1-3,7-10; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

The Scripture Text

On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with His disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. (John 2:1-11 RSV)

Today's Gospel about the marriage feast at Cana is one of the most humanly appealing stories about Jesus. To see His interest and concern for the young married couple is something we all appreciate. There is also a warm humanness about the fact that Mary, His mother, apparently refused to take "no" for an answer from Jesus. And yet there seems to be something deeper about the Gospel, something very significant underlying the charming narrative.

We have a hint that there is something more here than just a story, for St. John apparently takes it for granted that his readers know that the water became wine. He really does not emphasize the miracle at all. Everyone knew, in John's estimation, that Jesus had worked a miracle. John's point was that the whole episode was a sign, a sign of the Church. John's thinking is a little complex, but it is worth going into.

It is noteworthy that the event takes place at a wedding feast. The Old Testament pictured the people of Israel as the spouse of God, and saw in a wedding feast a symbol of the Messianic age. We heard an example of this imagery in the first reading of today's Mass, from Isaiah. "… as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you" (Isaiah 62:5 RSV). St. Paul, in accord with this same symbol, spoke of the Church, the new Israel, as the bride of Christ. And so, it appears that St. John used the wedding feast to show that he wished to say something about the Church.

Next, we must notice the prominence of Mary in the story. The Second Vatican Council has reemphasized an old, favorite idea of the early writers that Mary is a sign of the people in the Church. In a sense, she sums up in her person the whole human race as called to follow Christ. This is why Jesus addressed her with a term that strikes us as strange for a son to use, "Woman".

The word "Woman" is rich in biblical connotation. It recalls the first woman, Eve, whose name means "mother of all the living". Mary as the new Eve is the new mother of all the living, and so represents all of mankind. At Cana, Jesus stated that His hour has not yet come. Mary in effect told Him that we wanted His hour to come. The word "hour" meant His death and resurrection, the great mystery whereby He would gain our salvation. When Jesus worked His first miracle at the implicit request of Mary, He was beginning that whole series of events that would inevitably lead to His death and resurrection.

By His death and resurrection, Jesus was to form the new people of God, the Church. As Jesus changed the water into a fuller and richer liquid, that of wine, so He was going to change the old Jewish religion into the fuller and richer religion of Christianity. The choice wine kept until later in the history of the human race is Christianity, and we are the ones who enjoy it.

Yes, we are the ones who benefit by the Church, but the Church is not something we simply enjoy. It is not merely a source of goodness for us, as we sit back and drink its pleasant wine. Notice in the Gospel story that, though Jesus worked the miracle by His power alone, He did so in cooperation with others: with Mary, the headwaiter, and his assistants. And so in the Church, each one of us has his job to do in cooperation with Christ.

St. Paul, in the second reading of today's Mass, is also talking about the Church. He tells us that in the Church there are many and varied functions which different people perform. The Church is not just the Pope and the bishops. All of us together make up the Church, and each one of us must do his share for the good of the whole Church.

Some time after their wedding day, a young couple comes to realize that marriage is more than something we enjoy. It is something that both husband and wife have to work at, because marriage is what they make it. And so with the Church. The Church today will largely be what we make it. Christ is doing His part. Are we doing ours?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You. Today, You remind us that we certainly have the right to criticize the Church. You also remind us that by criticizing the Church, we are criticizing ourselves, for we are the Church. I realize that it is not honest or valid to step back and look at the Church as something apart from ourselves, any more than we can step back from and complain about an infected finger as if it were not part of us. Yes Lord, we are the Church. What the Church is today largely depends on what kind of people we are. Amen.

[Salvation]

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