First reading Isaiah 62:1-5
The bridegroom rejoices in his bride
About Zion I will not be silent,
about Jerusalem I will not grow weary,
until her integrity shines out like the dawn
and her salvation flames like a torch.
The nations then will see your integrity,
all the kings your glory,
and you will be called by a new name,
one which the mouth of the Lord will confer.
You are to be a crown of splendour in the hand of the Lord,
a princely diadem in the hand of your God;
no longer are you to be named ‘Forsaken’,
nor your land ‘Abandoned’,
but you shall be called ‘My Delight’
and your land ‘The Wedded’;
for the Lord takes delight in you
and your land will have its wedding.
Like a young man marrying a virgin,
so will the one who built you wed you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices in his bride,
so will your God rejoice in you.
Responsorial Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-10
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless his name.
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the Lord, you families of nations,
give to the Lord glory and praise;
give to the Lord the glory due his name!
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the Lord in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The Lord is king.
He governs the peoples with equity.
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Second reading 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
The Spirit distributes gifts to different people just as he chooses
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. One may have the gift of preaching with wisdom given him by the Spirit; another may have the gift of preaching instruction given him by the same Spirit; and another the gift of faith given by the same Spirit; another again the gift of healing, through this one Spirit; one, the power of miracles; another, prophecy; another the gift of recognising spirits; another the gift of tongues and another the ability to interpret them. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who distributes different gifts to different people just as he chooses.
Gospel John 2:1-11
‘My hour has not come yet’ – ‘Do whatever he tells you’
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.
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When the wine runs out
“…and the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’” (The gospel). There are moments in our lives when we feel as though we have run out of “wine”, and life seems to lack meaning. Our faith seems dry. Everything we do starts to feel pointless. No matter how hard we work and the many good intentions we have, we find ourselves living a life devoid of joy and hope. The invitation for us is to be like Mother Mary, go to Jesus, the source of life, vitality and joy, and cry out to Him, “Jesus, I have no wine, just emptiness and despair.”
“Do whatever He tells you”- Mary directs these words to us today. This call is relevant for us today, reminding us to listen to Jesus and do what He tells us, regardless of our circumstances, as it will ultimately be for our benefit. Jesus’ words have the power to fill our lives with hope, joy and peace, transforming our fears into courage and our emptiness into an abundance of life. Let us live each day with Jesus, the endless source of life and love.
Reflective question:
What is Jesus’ invitation to me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
