“Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now” (John 2:10).

After the Baptism of The Lord, we return to Ordinary Time. Each year, the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time is from the Gospel of John. This year, we have the account of the famous story of the Wedding Feast at Cana, the time when Jesus officially began His ministry by performing His first miracle at Mary’s request.

In eleven verses, St. John tells us of an amazing event and one is great importance because: “It touches on a theme of Jesus’ identity as a bridegroom and the new creation. If you look at the Gospel of John, he uses this word semeion (a sign) to describe miracles that are performed by Jesus that are outward signs of some kind of invisible spiritual significance or spiritual reality” (Dr. Brant Pitre).

In the midst of the week-long feast, it was Mary who noticed that the wine had run out and pointed out the problem to Jesus. Now this wine was used for each of the seven Wedding Blessings (the Sheva Brachot). She gave the servants instructions that are equally applicable to us today as modern-day stewards, saying, “Do whatever He tells you.” Jesus gives the servants a simple and seemingly mundane task, telling them to fill some stone jars with water. They did what He told them to do. And Jesus used their obedience in the accomplishment of that simple task to perform His first miracle, turning the water into the choicest wine.

Stewardship

The Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother, helps us to see that each one of us must “Do whatever He tells you,” meaning that as the Church, His Bride, we must follow the Bridegroom and obey His commands and share the abundance of His Love with others in perfect charity.

Today’s second reading reminds us of the Gift and Grace of the Holy Spirit we receive through the Church in order to fulfill God’s Holy Will in our lives. The Holy Trinity uses our loving obedience and surrender to pour out the love of Divine Life on all creation. Jesus did not have to ask the head-waiter (or head-steward) and the servants to make this first miracle of changing the water into wine.

Yes, He chose to ask for their help. Today, 2,025 plus years later, He still chooses to include us in the working of His miracles through our teamwork and our collaboration with Him in using the gifts and many abilities and gifts that He has given us.

“What a privilege to be able to work with Jesus to make miracles happen! Everything we have, therefore, is intended to benefit those around us. Because God has made each one of us with unique and differing gifts, the parish family truly does need each of us.

“It’s a wonderful — and at the same time — sobering reality. Our parish family will be vibrant only when all members, young and old, share their gifts with the community. It will suffer if even one member holds back. If we all take Mary’s call seriously, Jesus will make miracles happen in our families and in our parish” (The Catholic Steward).

Fr. Kilian, Fr. Samuel, our Deacons and our Parish Staff and Volunteers.

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