2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - 16/1/2022 - Gospel: Jn 2: 1-12
Changing
To change something we need to add something else to make the change. Without adding something we could change nothing. Jesus added nothing into the water, but changed the water into, not an ordinary one, but the best wine. He had the power beyond the natural world. It meant He was the Lord of nature.
A wedding was supposed to be a happy occasion, and having insufficient food or drink for guests would be shameful. The Canna's wedding ran out of wine. Probably the bridegroom's family was poor in both finance and organizational skills. We don't know. Mary, Mother of Jesus, came to their rescue. She told Jesus, the family had no more wine. She made no such clear request of her Son, but simply told Him about the host's problem. It seemed both Jesus and Mary shared the same mind's wave length on this matter. He understood exactly what she was expecting of Him, and she was certain that He would do something good for the family. Jesus said to Mary that His hour has not yet come. The implication would be that, by her request, He would make an exception. Mary gave a clear instruction to the servants, implying that Mary believed Jesus certainly would do something about it, even though His hour had not yet come. She had no idea what Jesus would do to save the bridegroom's family, but boldly told the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you'. Surprisingly, the servants obeyed both Mary and Jesus. They simply did their job as they were told, without asking or understanding.
Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. 'And they filled them to the brim'. Filling to the brim meant there was no more room left in the jars for Jesus to add on anything. He didn't even come near the jars, but simply asked the servants to fill the water into the jars. He then told them to bring the water to the steward. The water turned into wine. No one added anything to the water. Jesus transformed the water into the best wine by His will. When we truly believe in Jesus, He could transform our life, transform us into God's chosen people. The water in the jars, in a mysterious way, turned into the best wine. No one, not even the servants who carried out the work, knew when and how the water turned into wine. The wedding guests knew nothing, just imply enjoyed the best wine. Apart from Jesus no one knew how the water changed into wine. Jesus' power was hidden from them all.
Jesus could make the miracle differently, all by Himself, but He allowed the servants to carry out the work. They became His assistants and shared the glory of His miracle. Jesus worked through the servants and made them feel worthwhile. Today Jesus asked us to continue the work He had begun on earth, and to share His gift of everlasting life.
The six jars of water was used for purification as Jewish ritual custom. Changing the ritual water into wine, Jesus was creating an ordinary thing- ritual water- to special thing. His new creation not just brought joy to the wedding guests, but it saved the bridegroom's family from disgrace.
Jesus and His disciples went to the wedding to affirm the traditional family value. Sometime later, His opponents challenged Him about the notion of divorce. Jesus affirmed them the traditional teaching about the unbreakable bond of the Sacrament of marriage. When God is the centre of our life, our family, we have joy and love.
Mary and Jesus would not have a free feast at the wedding. The changing a hundred of gallons of water into the best wine to save the bridegroom from disgrace. It also gave financial support for the newly wedded couple. They could sell the wine left over from the party for financial gain. Whenever God gives, God gives abundantly.
A wedding was supposed to be a happy occasion, and having insufficient food or drink for guests would be shameful. The Canna's wedding ran out of wine. Probably the bridegroom's family was poor in both finance and organizational skills. We don't know. Mary, Mother of Jesus, came to their rescue. She told Jesus, the family had no more wine. She made no such clear request of her Son, but simply told Him about the host's problem. It seemed both Jesus and Mary shared the same mind's wave length on this matter. He understood exactly what she was expecting of Him, and she was certain that He would do something good for the family. Jesus said to Mary that His hour has not yet come. The implication would be that, by her request, He would make an exception. Mary gave a clear instruction to the servants, implying that Mary believed Jesus certainly would do something about it, even though His hour had not yet come. She had no idea what Jesus would do to save the bridegroom's family, but boldly told the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you'. Surprisingly, the servants obeyed both Mary and Jesus. They simply did their job as they were told, without asking or understanding.
Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. 'And they filled them to the brim'. Filling to the brim meant there was no more room left in the jars for Jesus to add on anything. He didn't even come near the jars, but simply asked the servants to fill the water into the jars. He then told them to bring the water to the steward. The water turned into wine. No one added anything to the water. Jesus transformed the water into the best wine by His will. When we truly believe in Jesus, He could transform our life, transform us into God's chosen people. The water in the jars, in a mysterious way, turned into the best wine. No one, not even the servants who carried out the work, knew when and how the water turned into wine. The wedding guests knew nothing, just imply enjoyed the best wine. Apart from Jesus no one knew how the water changed into wine. Jesus' power was hidden from them all.
Jesus could make the miracle differently, all by Himself, but He allowed the servants to carry out the work. They became His assistants and shared the glory of His miracle. Jesus worked through the servants and made them feel worthwhile. Today Jesus asked us to continue the work He had begun on earth, and to share His gift of everlasting life.
The six jars of water was used for purification as Jewish ritual custom. Changing the ritual water into wine, Jesus was creating an ordinary thing- ritual water- to special thing. His new creation not just brought joy to the wedding guests, but it saved the bridegroom's family from disgrace.
Jesus and His disciples went to the wedding to affirm the traditional family value. Sometime later, His opponents challenged Him about the notion of divorce. Jesus affirmed them the traditional teaching about the unbreakable bond of the Sacrament of marriage. When God is the centre of our life, our family, we have joy and love.
Mary and Jesus would not have a free feast at the wedding. The changing a hundred of gallons of water into the best wine to save the bridegroom from disgrace. It also gave financial support for the newly wedded couple. They could sell the wine left over from the party for financial gain. Whenever God gives, God gives abundantly.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
