2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) - 16 January

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) - 16 January

A reflection on today's gospel reading by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:

"In the Old Testament, the relation between God and Israel was compared to the relation between a bridegroom and his bride. Our Lord suggested that the same relation would henceforth exist between Himself and the new spiritual Israel, which He was going to found. He would be the Bridegroom, His Church would be the bride. And since He came to establish this kind of union between Himself and redeemed humanity, it was fitting that He should commence His public ministry by assisting at a marriage.

"Mary, His Blessed Mother, was present at the wedding feast. Mary was to be the instrument of His first miracle, or sign, that He was what He claimed to be, the Son of God. John the Evangelist, who had already been chosen to be a disciple, was present at the feast; and it was he who was both an eye-and-ear witness to what Mary did at Cana. In the temple and in the Jordan, Our Lord received His Father’s blessing and sanction to begin His work of Redemption. At Cana, He received the assent of His human parent.

"When the wine gave out at Cana, it is interesting to note that Mary was more concerned with the guests than was the wine-steward; for it was she, and not he, who noticed their need of wine. Mary turned to her Divine Son in a perfect spirit of prayer...she said: 'They have no wine.' It was not a personal request; she was already a mediatrix for all who were seeking the fullness of joy. The mother used the special power which she had as a mother over her Son, a power generated by mutual love. He answered: 'Woman, what to Me and to thee? My Hour is not yet come.'

"First consider the [first] words. This a Hebrew phrase which is difficult to translate into English. In order to understand His meaning more fully, consider the [second] words. The 'Hour' obviously refers to His Cross. Whenever the word 'Hour' is used in the New Testament, it is used in relation to His Passion, death, and glory. At Cana, Our Lord was referring to Calvary and saying that the time appointed for beginning the task of Redemption was not yet at hand. His mother was asking for a miracle; He was implying that a miracle worked as a sign of His Divinity would be the beginning of His Death. He was telling His mother that she was virtually pronouncing a sentence of death over Him. If He agreed to her request, He would be beginning His hour of death and glorification. As soon as He had consented to begin His 'Hour,' He proceeded immediately to tell her that...now that He was launched on the work of Redemption, she would no longer be just His mother, but also the mother of all His human brethren whom He would redeem. To indicate this new relationship, He now addressed her, not as 'Mother' but as the 'Universal Mother' or 'Woman.' If He was to be the new Adam, the founder of a redeemed humanity, she would be the new Eve and the mother of that new humanity. When she took Him away from the temple as a boy of twelve, it was because she sensed that His Hour had not yet come; He obeyed her then and returned to Nazareth. Now, He told her that His Hour had not yet come, but she bade Him begin it, and He obeyed." (Life of Christ)

Prayer for Married Couples

God our Father, we give you thanks for the gift of marriage; the bond of life and love, and the font of the family. The love of husband and wife enriches Your Church with children, fills the world with multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service, and is the sign of the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ, for His Church. The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the request of the Blessed Mother. May Your Son, through the intercession of Mary, pour out upon us a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as we join with all people of good will to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage. May Your Holy Spirit enlighten our society to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife, and guide our leaders to sustain and protect the singular place of mothers and fathers in the lives of their children. Father, we ask that our prayers be joined to those of the Virgin Mary, that Your Word may transform our service so as to safeguard the incomparable splendour of marriage. We ask all these things through Christ our Lord, Amen. 🙏💖

Prayer for Union with the Holy Spirit

O Holy Spirit of Light and Love, to You I consecrate my heart, mind, and will for time and eternity. May I be ever docile to Your Divine inspirations and to the teachings of the holy Catholic Church whose infallible guide You are. May my heart be ever inflamed with the love of God and love of neighbour. May my will be ever in harmony with Your Divine Will. May my life faithfully imitate the life and virtues of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him, with the Father, and You, Divine Spirit, be honour and glory forever. Amen. (St Pius X) 💖🙏🔥