Second Sunday in Ordinary time, 16th January, 2022

Gospel : 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.

Donal Neary SJ
Gospel Reflections Year C
www.messenger.ie/bookshop

Cana: New wine for life

The human side of the gospel today is the huge need of a young couple on the best day of their lives. Jesus hears of their need and the result is the wine for the wedding, but more so, it is the promise of the fullness of God.

We look for the fullness of life in money, food, sex, travel, security, reputation-none last. Only the simplest joys of life really satisfy in the end, like the joy of love, the thrill of friendship, the caring in family and the ways we enjoy the goodness of creation.

A man asked once in the hospice at the end of his life -'what is happiness?' 'Find happiness now' was his answer -'be satisfied, be grateful, for what you have, for what you have received, for what God has given you.' There is a fullness of life in being happy with who I am, what I have... and asking God for what he knows I need.

No matter what our .age, we can do good for others, we can share the graces of life and the soul can grow. That's what I hope can happen for me as life goes on. In any group of people, some look happy and some look miserable. The happiest are not always the ones who had or are having the easiest life. They are the ones who have found peace with themselves, others and God.

Because of the gift of the fullness of God in 'new wine', we always have a home, here and after - in the heart of our God in Jesus Christ now and for eternity.

Jesus of the wedding feast of Cana,
give us the faith and hope to know that you can always make a change for the better in our lives, and the love to live by what we receive.

Gospel and Gosple Reflection are taken from  Mass Readings and Sunday Homily - Catholicireland.net