

Breaking Open the Word
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction
Have you ever had a moment of clarity? A moment when everything came into focus. Sometimes we can see beyond our immediate surroundings. We can see a greater truth. The spark for these times can be simple or significant. However it comes, God breaks through and provides a sign that leads us into something greater.
In a small town, off the beaten path, the Son of a carpenter gave a sign. That sign opened the eyes of those who followed Him and millions who came after. In our Gospel today, we hear of Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding Feast of Cana. Jesus gave His followers a sign that revealed who He was and the nature of His mission. Something as simple as a sip of wine opens the mind, the heart, and the spirit to He Who is Greater.

Gospel Explained
The first half of John’s Gospel focuses on seven events which are called signs. John calls these signs because these works performed by Jesus are not just supernatural miracles but are signs that unveil the glory and power of God working through Jesus the Messiah. Each sign revealed part of the person and mission of Jesus. It challenged the witnesses to look beyond the wonders that accompanied the sign and to come to faith in Jesus, glorifying the God who sent Him. In today’s Gospel we learn of Jesus’ first sign at a wedding feast in Cana.
Mary, Jesus’ mother alerts Him to the fact that the wedding celebration has run out of wine. Jesus’ response, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” is often misunderstood. In Greek Jesus’ response was “what to me and to you?” Meaning how does this involve you and me. Addressing Mary as “Woman” was a respectful title. She is the "Woman" whose seed will defeat the serpent. Only two women in salvation history have been given the title "Woman," Eve and Mary.
Jesus responds, “My hour has not yet come.” References to the coming hour of Jesus happens at least a dozen times in John’s Gospel. Most scholars agree Jesus' "hour" points to the "hour" of Christ's Passion and Death on the cross, an hour that man will not determine, rather it is an “hour” completely in God's control. The blood that Jesus will shed will become the “best wine” of Holy Communion providing blessings for all of mankind through His sacrificial death.
So why does Jesus make this statement? The purpose of this incident is to help us to understand the power of Mary's intervention not just on behalf of the bride and groom at Cana but in her role as intercessor for all God’s children. The wonderful thing about Mary is that when we petition our holy Mother for her assistance, she always prays for us according to the Father's will for our lives. Mary is the Woman who makes God’s salvation story possible. Her entire purpose is to bring God’s children to Jesus through her prayer and example.

Today's Theme
In scripture, marriage is God’s gift where two distinct persons become one flesh, one nephesh or one living being (Genesis 2:24). Created to be complementary for one another, husbands and wives are to be mutually helpful, loving and supportive (Genesis 2:18-20). Both the Jewish community and Christians viewed the relationship of God to humankind and Christ to the church as a marital covenant. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the happy occasion of a wedding feast to proclaim the good news. Something new is happening in the relationship between God and humankind.
The six stone jars were connected to Jewish ritual washings. Such washings made the person ritually clean. “Six” stone jars represented an unfulfilled state in the time of Jesus and conveyed a message. (The #7 is the number of perfection.) Judaism lacked its Messiah and His Kingdom. Jesus used the jars to reveal a taste of God's kingdom. At Jesus’ order, the jars were filled to the brim; by His power the water became wine.
Given the capacity of the jars, a super-abundance of wine (approx. 120 gallons) was produced, far too much for the wedding party. The quantity of wine plus the fact of its quality (“you have kept the choice wine until now!”) was stunning! The wine that Jesus had to offer, His words and works, were far superior to any other teaching or wisdom. The Old Testament foretold that the era of the messiah would be celebrated with an abundance of choice wine, which had now begun.

Theme in our Life Today
One of my favorite lines and the last words of Our Blessed Mother recorded in scripture are, “Do whatever He tells you.” These powerful words have a profound effect on the servants. They immediately trust Jesus’ directions filling the large jars with water. Jesus promptly tells them to draw out some water for tasting and take it to their boss. This would take faith and courage, present water for a wine tasting?
Mary and Jesus are asking the servants to trust Jesus even though they don’t understand what He is doing. We may not always grasp Jesus’ work in our lives. We may not see clearly where the Lord is leading us. But Mary teaches us how to respond as faithful servants…Do whatever He tells us. Her mission has always been to point others to her Son, Jesus, and to urge us to follow His commands. Mary leads us to Christ and speaks those words to us today.
These words, “Do whatever He tells you,” highlight the need for action in our lives of discipleship. It’s not enough to simply profess our faith in Jesus Christ, we must also live it out, following and trusting Jesus’ every word. If we are to listen to Mary’s words, we must examine our own lives and consider how much we have obeyed God’s commands in our words and deeds. As we know…actions speak louder than words.

Prepare for Sunday
*Spend time meditating on this powerful statement, “Do whatever He tells you.” How can I be more attentive to Jesus’ call?
*What prevents me from doing what He asks of me? How can I remove this roadblock to heaven?
*Reflect on a time when God abundantly provided for my needs. Did I recognize this gift and praise Him?