As we celebrate this Sunday in Ordinary Time we begin to learn about Christ’s mission, His journey, His miracles...
Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 16, 2022): IS 62:1-5; PS 96:1-2,2-3,7-8,9-10;1 COR 12:4-11; JN 2:1-11
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Mary is the New Eve who bore Jesus, who is our Redeemer from the sin of Adam and Eve.
In the Gospel reading today, we hear the account of the marriage feast at Cana. Jesus attended along with His mother Mary and some the earliest disciples. But all too soon there is distressing news. The unexpected had happened: there was no more wine. This social disgrace would mar the new couple’s wedding and probably create gossip and bad feeling for a long time. Then Mary presented the problem to Jesus. “When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does this concern Me?’ My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever He tells you’” (John 2:3-5). So the servants did just that. The water that Christ told them to put into jars was turned into wine, delicious wine, for all there to enjoy.
This event appears only in St. John’s Gospel. It is the first of Jesus’ signs or miracles that is recounted. But it is a notable incident in another way. When our Lord is dying on the cross, He again addresses Mary as Woman as a title of respect. Moreover, it recalls the creation of Eve in the Book of Genesis when she was called woman. Mary is the New Eve who bore Jesus, who is our Redeemer from the sin of Adam and Eve. At Cana, Christ was starting His task of sharing the Kingdom of God. In time, His total self-sacrifice would take place on Calvary when He shed His blood. We can also contemplate the fact that is the last time we hear our Blessed Mother speak in the Scriptures is at Jesus’ first miracle. Let us ask our Blessed Mother, the Mother of God to help us remember her words: “Do whatever He tells you.” If we cooperate with God’s will and seek to do what our Lord asks of us each day, we will always be close to her -- and she will always keep us close to her Son.
Suggested missionary action: In honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we can pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary which include the miracle at Cana. We can also remember the people around the world who have yet to hear the Good News of the Kingdom of God that Jesus taught us.