2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time year C
✠ A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 2:1-11
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’, and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now’ he told them ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink, but you have kept the best wine till now.’
This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.
1. We are in 2025, the jubilee year of hope, and today is the Sunday of the Word of God. Our readings are all hope giving. The history of the chosen people shows that God is a giver of hope for those who draw near to him. He not only restores but also multiplies their hope because God is our hope. Today’s first reading from prophet Isaiah 62,1-5, is a prophecy of hope, made to the people of Israel after their return from exile. They were full of great hope while leaving the land of Babylon for Israel, but when they arrived, they met a devastated territory. The situation was hopeless. It was then that God sent his prophet to bring them a message of hope. He assured them that God would restore them to greatness. He will take an interest in them, the kind of interest that a young man shows towards his newly married wife. This prophecy was fulfilled within a short time. The people became prosperous, so prosperous that they even turned their back on God to pursue the goodies that God has allowed into their lives. This prosperity has continued even to the present day. For example, the State of Israel was declared in 1948. In 1950, the decree of returned was proclaimed, and a few years later, Israel became a superpower in military and economic manifestations.
2. The story of Israel changed because they allowed God into the picture. Today’s gospel buttresses this fact that those who bring God into their life will experience joy. In the gospel, a couple invited Jesus and his mother to their wedding. They brought Jesus and his mother into their story. When their wine failed, Jesus changed their disgrace to grace. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the first to notice the embarrassment that the couple was facing. She intervened with Jesus. Jesus came like every other person to enjoy the party but ended up providing for the party. He changed water into high-quality wine. The steward of the party confirmed this when he asked the groom why he brought out the best wine at the end.
3. The Church in Corinth was another good example that proves that God always provides for those who bring him close. Today’s second reading (1Cor 12:4-11) presents a church that lacks no spiritual gift. They have all that they need to serve God. However, they have a problem of pride among them. Some believed their gifts to be superior to those of others and were thus looking down on others. They forgot that it was God who provided those gifts for the building up of the community. St. Paul warns them that pride can obstruct the working of the Holy Spirit in a community.
4. From the three readings, we can affirm that God is always interested in giving joy and hope to his people by providing for their needs. He did it for those who returned from exile. He did it for the Christians of Corinth. He did it abundantly at the marriage by providing drums of high-quality wine.
5. Today’s readings challenge you to be a provider of hope and joy to those around. Like Jesus, respond to invitations for social celebrations like marriages and other ceremonies. Do not consider any invitation as unimportant because your presence can make a big difference. Like Mary, be out to help those who are celebrating and be disposed to save them from embarrassment by coming to their rescue in moments of difficulties. Like the prophet Isaiah, restore hope and provide assurance to the hopeless. Like the Corinthians, remember that all your gifts and talents are from God and should be used in building up the community and should not make you despise others. Be a joy giver even in your needs. Remember that the measure you give will be the measure you will receive. Seed sowing is always followed by harvest season.
@Vitalis Anaehobi
19/01/25