Homily – January 17, 2010 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ We have heard often of the scene in today's gospel passage: Jesus attending the wedding feast at Cana. But if we really stop to think about it, some of the implications in this account are quite astounding: first of all this is Jesus' first big dinner party since his Baptism and the inauguration of his public ministry (which we celebrated last week). And here at this feast, at least three important things happen:

1. First of all, by his very presence and interest in what was going on here,
   Jesus takes marriage, the sacred bond between husband and wife that was instituted by his Father in the very beginning, and raises it to the dignity of a sacrament: assuring his very presence to those contracting Christian marriages when later he would found his Church
   
2. Secondly, Jesus obeys his mother who asks him to perform a miracle of providing wine, as the supply had run out, and the bride and groom stood to be embarrassed by this oversight. But what this implied is that his "hour" of "concentrating fully" on our salvation would now be moved back three years to this very moment. Jesus asks his mother if she was sure she wanted him to do this. Mary did not answer Jesus directly, but she did tell the stewards to: do whatever he tells you. These are Mary's last recorded words in scripture. These words then were meant not only for the wine stewards but also for whoever hears them – we must always do whatever he tells us, when he tells us.
   
   1. And, from that moment everything became different between Mary and Jesus, and between everyone else and Jesus. Jesus is now not only the Anointed One (sent to bring glad tidings to the poor), but also now The Suffering Servant (sent to die for us and for our salvation). Jesus went from being Son of Mary, to Son of Man!
      
   2. And - just as he now miraculously, and with great ease, changes water into wine - at the Last Supper he would change wine into blood – the same blood that he would shed the next day: for us and our salvation – out of obedience to his Father and out of love for us!
      
3. Thirdly, the sign of the good wine saved until the end is an obvious reference to his coming at all: the best and most eloquent of all of the priests, prophets and kings of ancient days was Jesus, to whom they pointed, whose coming they foretold – who was the very Victim and Sacrifice they offered, the very words they prophesied, the very concept of a kingdom that they proclaimed.
   

And so, Jesus accepted the direct opening of the narrow highway that would lead him to the cross, on that day in Cana of Galilee. He had serious work to do, beginning right then and there; but he was so very happy to do it. To him he was truly like a bridegroom who rejoiced as he prepared to meet his bride for a great wedding feast. The bride is the Church. The bride is us. And one day we shall enter into that great Nuptial Wedding Feast in the Kingdom - which is being prepared for us right now! Jesus has done his part already! We do our part by using the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in the second reading today – gifts which have as their goal upbuilding the family of God in all charity: us, the Bride of Christ and the cherished object of the Father's eye!

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ – may we respond affirmatively to the invitation and show our gratitude for what Jesus has done for us - beginning on that day in Cana of Galilee, by allowing the Spirit to move us to great works for God and for all, especially for those who are in most need of our help!