Ever Important Lessons from Jesus’ First Sign in Cana, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (EF), January 14, 2018

Fr. Roger J. Landry
St. Agnes Church, Manhattan
Second Sunday after Epiphany, Extraordinary Form
January 14, 2018
Rom 12:6-12, Jn 2:1-11

 

To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below: 

 

The following points were attempted in the homily: 

  • Jesus’ raising the water of marriage as the good and natural institution in the beginning to the level of the wine of the sacrament, a sign and means of intimate communion with him and a participation in his long foretold spousal union with the Church.
  • Our cooperation with this work like the servants with zeal filled the water jars to the brim.
  • Mary’s role in interceding for us for all our needs, and especially for our cooperation in doing whatever Jesus himself tells us.
  • Jesus at Mass works a far greater “sign” than in Cana, changing not water into wine but wine and bread into himself. This is the consummation of the spousal union of Christ and his bride, the Church, which is the principal means by which married couples and every member of the bride of Christ learns how to love as Christ the Bridegroom continues to love us.

The readings for today’s Mass were: 

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.

The continuation of the Gospel according to St. JohnLuke
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (And) Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

 

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