From the Pastor – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the Pastor – 2 nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel reading from John recounts the familiar story of the wedding feast at Cana when Jesus launched His public ministry by performing His first miracle at his mother’s request.
In the midst of the feast, the Blessed Mother noticed that the wine had run out and pointed out the problem to Jesus. Then, she gave the servants instructions that are equally applicable to us 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.
Our Lord didn’t have to include those servants in order to perform this miracle — He chose to. And today, 2,000 plus years later, He still chooses to include us in the performance of His miracles through our cooperation with Him in using the gifts and talents He has given us. What a privilege! Let us take care to listen to our Blessed Mother: let’s examine our lives this week to see if we really are “doing whatever He tells us,” cooperating with God to make the best use of the gifts He has given us for the benefit of those around us. If we all take this call seriously, He will perform miracles in our families and our parish.
Pastoral Pondering
We hear today about the third event that has also traditionally been associated with the Epiphany of the Lord. The visit of the Magi, the Baptism of the Lord, and today, the Miracle at the Wedding Feast. While all of the ornaments have been stored and all of the retailers are pedaling Valentine’s candy, the Church invites us to ponder one more event that manifests God with us.
All three of the Epiphany events reminds us of the presence of God, but I think the Cana miracle helps us focus on our role in cooperating with God’s plan. As noted above, Jesus chose to perform this miracle with the cooperation of the servants. He didn’t need their help, but He wanted it.
He also wants our cooperation in building up the Kingdom in our hearts, in our families, in our parish, and in our communities. This cooperation, contrary to a common opinion, does not necessarily require a great deal of time. It does, however, require intentionality. We must choose to do something. I was recently speaking with an elderly lady who was despairing that she had little to offer any longer. I pointed out that she still contributes a great deal by her prayers and her example. Everyone has something that he or she can offer to God. We just have to have the courage to take the first step and trust that God will do the rest.