JANUARY 20,2013 : SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (c)

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 66

Reading 1IS 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken, “
or your land “Desolate, “
but you shall be called “My Delight, “
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

Responsorial PsalmPS 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

R. (3) 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.
R. 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.
R. 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! 
R. 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.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Reading 21 COR 12:4-11

Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

GospelJN 2:1-11

There was a wedding at 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 the 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 at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.

www.usccb.org

Scripture Study

January 20, 2013 Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

This Sunday the Church begins the first part of Ordinary Time which will last until Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The word, "ordinary" as used here does not mean unimportant. It is derived from the word, "ordinal" which means,"counted." These are the counted Sundays of the year. Although the Christmas Season is over, the Lectionary refuses to completely let go of the revelation themes of the Christmas Season quite yet. This Sunday's celebration will focus on the revelation of Jesus to the disciples. It is in today's Gospel reading that the last recorded words of Mary in the Scriptures are found. She tells the waiters, "Do whatever He tells you." That was good advice for them and it is good advice for us too. In what ways has Jesus revealed Himself to me and how well have I done whatever He tells me?

NOTES on First Reading:

* 62:1 The vindication of Zion breaks forth with the suddenness of a desert dawn.

* 62:2 The new name is a figurative expression for a new state of happiness. See Rev 2:17; 3:12.

* 62:3 The reference is to the ancient idea of a god wearing a crown patterned after the city walls. The Lord is portrayed as holding such a crown in His hand.

* 62:4 Such names are known in Israelite history: 1 Kings 22:42; 2 Kings 21:1.

* 62:5 The theme of Yahweh as spouse is repeated from Isa 49:14; 50:1.

NOTES on Second Reading:

* 12:4-6 There are some features common to all charisms, despite their diversity: all are gifts (charismata), grace from outside ourselves; all are forms of service (diakoniai), an expression of their purpose and effect; and all are workings (energemata), in which God is at work. Paul associates each of these aspects with what later theology will call one of the persons of the Trinity. This is an early example of "appropriation."

*12:7 As all of the gifts have a common origin they also have a common goal and purpose for which the Spirit gives them.

* 12:8-10 The list of gifts is not exhaustive and precise definitions are not possible. Many of the meanings assumed by various charismatic groups are probably overly restrictive and arbitrary compared to Paul's wider and less restrictive categories.

* 12:11 Since all of the gifts are activated by the Spirit in His own way and for His own purposes no one should find reason for pride in any of the gifts.

NOTES on Gospel:

* 2:1-12:50 This section of the Gospel of John is often called "the Book of Signs". "Sign" (semeion) is John's word for Jesus' wondrous deeds. John never calls them miracles. They reveal Jesus as the Messiah to Israel and signify God's intervention in human history in a new way through Jesus. The Exodus story (see Deut 11:3; 29:2) forms the backdrop against which these signs are to be viewed.

* 2:1-11 This passage presents the first sign. It is the story of water being turned into wine. However, this was not any ordinary water but water for Jewish ceremonial washings (John 2:6). Furthermore it was not turned into ordinary wine but wine of the highest quality and of amazing quantity. Both of these were Messianic expectations. The other Gospels have no parallel to this story.

* 2:1 Cana does not appear in the Old Testament. Mary is always referred to as the mother of Jesus in John's Gospel. She is never called by name in John.

* 2:4 This verse may have been intended to contrast with apocryphal gospels which showed Jesus working miracles to help his family and friends. "Woman" is a normal, polite form of address, but except for this passage it is unknown in reference to one's mother. See also John 19:26. Since the beginning of John's gospel is patterned after the Genesis account of creation it may be a purposeful use of the language of Genesis where Eve is referred to as "the woman". "How does your concern affect me?" is literally, "What is this to me and to you?"--a Hebrew expression of either hostility as in Jdgs 11:12; 2 Chron 35:21; 1 Kings 17:18 or denial of common interest as in Hosea 14:9; 2 Kings 3:13. In Mark 1:24; 5:7 it is said by demons to Jesus. The "hour" that Jesus speaks of in John is always that of His passion, death, resurrection, and ascension.

* 2:6 The size of the jars is stated literally as "two or three measures". A typical liquid measure contained 39.39 liters. This means that Jesus provided 125 to 187 gallons of wine to the party which was probably already approaching the end. The vast quantity recalls prophecies of abundance in the last days; See Amos 9:13-14; Hosea 14:7; Jer 31:12.

* 2:8 The man referred to as the "Headwaiter" is the official who managed the banquet, but such a functionary is not known in Palestine from other sources. It most likely was a function performed by a friend of the family who may have acted as master of ceremonies; see Sirach 32:1.

* 2:11 This was the first of seven signs presented by John.

* 2:12 The next three episodes take place in Jerusalem. Only the first is paralleled in the synoptic gospels. John does not portray Jesus as being in Capernaum for an extended time of ministry as do the synoptic gospels.

www.st-raymond-dublin.org

Meditation: “Jesus manifested his glory at Cana”

Do you recognize the glory of the Lord's presence in your life? God often reveals his glory in the unlikeliest of places – in a cold stable at Bethlehem, at a village wedding party in Cana, on a bloody cross at Golgatha. In today’s Gospel reading we see the first public miracle or sign which Jesus did. The Lord Jesus blessed a young couple and brought joy to their wedding party. First by his presence, and second by saving them from embarrassment when the wine ran out. Changing water into wine was a remarkable act of kindness; but giving the best to last was unnecessary and unheard of. In the Old Testament wine is seen as both a gift and blessing of God (Deuteronomy 7:13; Proverbs 3:10, Psalm 105:). That Jesus would miraculously produce 120 gallons of the best wine (many times more than needed) shows the superabundance of the blessings which he came to offer.
This miracle signifies the "new rich wine" of the Gospel and it points to the “wine of the new covenant” and the “bread of life” which Jesus provides for his disciples in the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist. It also points to the Messianic banquet which Jesus will provide at the end of the age when he comes again in his glory. The miracles of Jesus demonstrate the power of God's love and mercy for his people. God's kindness knows no limits. And the ultimate expression of his love is revealed in the person of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He became flesh for our sake, and he died for our redemption, and he rose that we, too, might be raised up and glorified with him. Do you thirst for God and for the abundant life and blessings he offers to you?
"Heavenly Father, you have revealed your glory in our Lord Jesus Christ. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may bring you glory in all that I do and say.”
www.dailyscripture.net

“Do Whatever He Tells You”

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Father Robert DeCesare, LC John 2:1-11 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. Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that before you left this earth you gave me the Eucharist for my food and Mary for my mother. I believe in your Real Presence and choose to receive you reverently and often. I trust that Mary will be there for me and accompany me in whatever I need. I love you, Lord, for giving me a mother who is so concerned about me that she is willing to do whatever is necessary to help me in my mission and vocation. Petition: Help me, Lord, to foster a tender and personal devotion to your Mother. 1. “They Have No Wine”: A good mother is always on the watch to make sure that all is well, and Mary is no exception. Before anyone can react, she recognizes that the newlyweds are out of wine. They are talking among themselves, and they are in a panic. She can’t do anything about it but she knows someone who can, so she acts. She believes in the power of her son. Since he is the Son of God, he can solve the problem. Mary does not let the fact that she is a guest keep her from working. She acts on faith. She does not wait for someone to tell her to do something. She intervenes. We need to believe like Mary and be willing to take that bold step into the unknown, confident in a God we do not see. 2. “My Hour Has Not Yet Come”: Christ knows his mission. He is called to go to the cross and suffer for our sins. Yet he has not begun his public life. To perform a miracle now would be to anticipate his hour – to accelerate his mission to suffer for our sins. The time for him to accept the cross has not yet come. But Mary knows that something must be done. If she does not intercede, it could be a “disaster.”  At the time of Our Lord, wedding feasts lasted for a week. What would become of the wedding feast if there was no more wine? Mary knows this. She hears the newlyweds’ cries and worries, and she brings them to her son, knowing that he can do something. She is certain that he will calm the fears of the newlyweds and remedy the situation. Do we have a deep conviction that Mary watches over us and constantly intercedes with Our Lord for our sake? 3. A Son Will Never Say No to His Mother: “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix. This, however, is so understood that it neither takes away anything from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficacy of Christ the one Mediator” (Lumen Gentium, 62). Mary understood her mission and vocation. She intercedes for us constantly, is willing to help us, and wants to bring our petitions to her Son so that he can help us with whatever we need of him. Do I have a filial relationship with Mary, my Mother, and do I turn to her confidently with my concerns and needs? Conversation with Christ: Lord, I trust that you will give me the grace to imitate Mary. You are willing and ready to help me. You want the best for me, and you desire very much to assist me. Help me to learn from Mary’s example of acting in faith so that I, too, may be a person of faith like her. Help me to turn to her often so that she can bring me closer to you. Resolution: I will make a special visit our Blessed Mother asking for greater faith and confiding myself and loved ones to her tender care.

www.regnumchristi.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JOHN 2:1-11
(Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
KEY VERSE: "Do whatever he tells you" (v 5).
READING: The transformation of water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana was another epiphany, a "sign" of God's manifestation through Jesus. In Scripture, the wedding was an image of God's covenant with Israel (Is 42:6). The abundance of wine suggested the beginning of the Messianic age (Is 25:6). In Jesus' day, wedding feasts typically lasted several days. Guests had to travel many miles to outlying villages, and the hosts had to provide adequate food and drink for them. Mary and Jesus, along with his disciples, were invited to a wedding at Cana, some nine miles northeast of Nazareth. Jesus' mother noticed that the young couple had run out of wine and interceded with Jesus on their behalf. Jesus addressed his mother by the unconventional title "woman." Mary was the new Eve whose offspring, Jesus, would crush the head of the ancient serpent, Satan (Gen 3:15), through his death and resurrection. Her request initiated her son's power even though the time for him to reveal his glory had not yet come. The people were enthralled at the new wine poured out from the water jars (used for ritual purification). Jesus' mother Mary was present at this first "hour" of her son's glory as she would be at his final "hour" of agony (Jn 19:25). On the cross, Jesus would shed water and blood for the people's redemption. Once again he called his mother "woman." Mary is the New Eve whose obedience to God brought about salvation. She is the Mother of the Church who would shelter the faithful symbolized by Jesus' disciple John (Jn 19:26-27).
REFLECTING: Can I obey Mary's instruction: "Do whatever he tells you"?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, fill the empty "water jar" of my life with faith and devotion to you.
www.daily-word-of-life.com

Proclaim his marvellous deeds to all the nations 

‘In everybody it is the same God at work in them all.’
In these readings we ponder our gifts. We see Jesus’ first miracle, the first time he manifests his divine gifts, the first time ‘he revealed his glory’. In his letter to the Corinthians, St Paul speaks of our many gifts, the variety of charisms which all come from the same Spirit. Our individual calling reflects our gifts which we are to use for good in our world.

Our gifts are to do God’s work in the world: through our hands and feet, hearts and minds. We realise that perhaps our greatest gift is God’s presence within us, keeping us focused, guiding our actions. Let us strive to free up our gifts so that our hands and feet, hearts and minds can bring God’s goodness to all we meet. 

www.churchresources.info

January 20
St. Fabian
(c. 250)

Fabian was a Roman layman who came into the city from his farm one day as clergy and people were preparing to elect a new pope. Eusebius, a Church historian, says a dove flew in and settled on the head of Fabian. This sign united the votes of clergy and laity, and he was chosen unanimously.

He led the Church for 14 years and died a martyr’s death during the persecution of Decius in 250 A.D.. St. Cyprian wrote to his successor that Fabian was an “incomparable” man whose glory in death matched the holiness and purity of his life.

In the catacombs of St. Callistus, the stone that covered Fabian’s grave may still be seen, broken into four pieces, bearing the Greek words, “Fabian, bishop, martyr.”

Comment:

We can go confidently into the future and accept the change that growth demands only if we have firm roots in the past, in a living tradition. A few pieces of stone in Rome are a reminder to us that we are bearers of more than 20 centuries of a living tradition of faith and courage in living the life of Christ and showing it to the world. We have brothers and sisters who have “gone before us with the sign of faith,” as the First Eucharistic Prayer puts it, to light the way for us.

Quote:

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” (Tertullian).

January 20
St. Sebastian
(257?-288?)

as a Roman martyr, was venerated in Milan even in the time of St. Ambrose (December 7) and was buried on the Appian Way, probably near the present Basilica of St. Sebastian. Devotion to him spread rapidly, and he is mentioned in several martyrologies as early as a.d. 350.

The legend of St. Sebastian is important in art, and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious fable has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. Finally he was found out, brought before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to Mauritanian archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with arrows, and he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those who came to bury him. He recovered, but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted the emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. He was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name.

Stories:

Another legend describes Sebastian's effectiveness in bolstering the courage of those in prison. Two men under sentence of death seemed about to give in to their captors. Sebastian's impassioned exhortation to constancy not only confirmed the two in their original convications but won over many other prisoners in the jail. Again, this particular story may not be historically accurate. But it is true that all saints witness to Jesus both by word and action. 

Comment:

The fact that many of the early saints made such a tremendous impression on the Church—awakening widespread devotion and great praise from the greatest writers of the Church—is proof of the heroism of their lives. As has been said, legends may not be literally true. Yet they may express the very substance of the faith and courage evident in the lives of these heroes and heroines of Christ.

Patron Saint of:

Athletes

www.americancatholic.org

LECTIO: 2ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

 

Lectio: 

 Sunday, January 20, 2013  

The First Miracle of Jesus
“Do whatever He tells you!”
John 2, 1-12

1. Opening prayer

Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection. 
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.

2. Reading

a) A key to the reading:

The Gospel of this second Sunday of ordinary Time places us before the celebration of the Wedding at Cana, in Galilee. At that time, just as now, everybody likes feasts: the feast for a marriage or for a Baptism, the birthday party, the feast of the Patron or Patroness of the Church, the feast at the end of the year, the feast and more feast… There are some feasts which remain engraved in our memory and, which with time, always acquire a more profound significance. Other feasts, we forget. We no longer remember them because they have lost their significance. The feast of the Wedding of Cana, as it has been described in the Gospel of John (Jn 2, 1-12), has remained alive in the memory of the Christian people, and it has given a few a more profound sense.
To understand this progressive discovery of the significance of the Wedding at Cana we must remember that the Gospel of John is different from the other Gospels. John describes the facts of the life of Jesus in such a way that the readers discover in them a more profound dimension, which only faith can perceive. John, at the same time, presents a photograph and the X-Rays. This is why, during the reading, it is good to be very attentive to the details of the text, especially to the two following things: (i) to the attitudes and to the behaviour of the persons and (ii) to what is lacking and to the abundance which appear in the Wedding at Cana.

b)    A division of the text to help in the reading:

John 2, 1-2: Feast of the Wedding. Mary is present, Jesus is the one who has been invited.
John 2, 3-5: Jesus and His Mother before the lack of wine.
John 2, 6: The jars for the ablutions are empty. 
John 2, 7-8: The initiative of Jesus and of the servants.
John 2, 9-10: The discovery of the sign by the president of the feast.
John 2, 11-12: The comment of the Evangelist.

c) Text:

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. 3 And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' 4 Jesus said, 'Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.' 5 His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'
6 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. 7 Jesus said to the servants, 'Fill the jars with water,' and they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, 'Draw some out now and take it to the president of the feast.' 9 They did this; the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from -- though the servants who had drawn the water knew -- the president of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said, 'Everyone serves good wine first and the worse wine when the guests are well wined; but you have kept the best wine till now.' 11 This was the first of Jesus' signs: it was at Cana in Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, but they stayed there only a few days.

3. A moment of prayerful silence

so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.

4. Some questions

to help us in our personal reflection.

a) Which point in this text pleased you the most and which one impressed you the most? Why?
b) What struck you in the attitude and in the behaviour of the persons? Why?
c) Which type of lack and of abundance was there in the feast? Which is the significance of this detail?
d) What did Jesus do and how did He do it to offer wine in abundance?
e) Jesus begins the announcement of the Kingdom in a Wedding feast. What does He want to teach us with this gesture?
f) Which is the message of this text for us today?

5. For those who wish to go deeper into the theme

a)    The context in order to understand the photograph and the X-Rays:

When we say “Photograph”, we indicate the facts in themselves, just as they appear before our eyes. When we say “X-Rays”, we indicate a more profound dimension, invisible to our eyes, which is enclosed in the facts that only faith makes us perceive and reveals to us.
It is in the way in which John describes the facts that he takes an X-Ray of the words and the gestures of Jesus. Through these small details and references, he makes evident the symbolical dimension and, in doing this, he helps us to penetrate deeper into the mystery of the person and the message of Jesus. In the Wedding at Cana, in Galilee, there is the change of the water of the ablutions of the Jews into the wine for the Wedding feast. Let us look closely at the details with which John describes the feast, in a way that we can understand the more profound significance of this beautiful and very well known episode.

b) Comment on the text:

John 2, 1-2: Feast of the wedding. Jesus has been invited.
In the Old Testament, the wedding feast was a symbol of God’s love for His people. That was what everyone expected in the future (Hos 2, 21-22; Is 62, 4-5). And it is precisely in a wedding feast, around a family and a community, that Jesus fulfils his “first sign” (Jn 2, 11). The Mother of Jesus was also in the feast. Jesus and His disciples had been invited. That is, the Mother of Jesus forms part of the feast. This symbolizes the Old Testament. Together with His disciples He is the New Testament which is arriving: The Mother of Jesus will help to pass from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

John 2, 3-5: Jesus and His Mother before the lack of wine
Right in the middle of the celebration, the wine is finished. The Mother of Jesus recognizes the limitations of the Old Testament and takes the initiative, in order that the New Testament may be manifested. She approaches Jesus and affirms: “They have no wine!” Here we have the photograph and the X-Ray. the Photorepresents the Mother of Jesus like a person who is attentive to the problems of others and to become aware that the lack of wine would ruin the feast. She is not only aware of the problem, but also takes the an effective initiative to solve it. TheX-Rays reveal the deepest dimension of the relationship between the Old Testament (the Mother of Jesus) and the New Testament (Jesus). The phrase, “They have no wine”!”, comes from the Old Testament, and awakens in Jesus the action which will bring to light the New one. Jesus says: “Woman, what do you want from me?” That is, which is the link between the Old and the New Testament? “My hour has not come yet!” Mary did not understand this response as negative, as a no, because she tells the servants: “Do whatever He tells you!” It is in doing that which Jesus teaches that one goes from the Old to the New Testament! The hour of Jesus, in which the passage from the Old to the New Testament will take place, is His Passion, Death and Resurrection. The change of the water into wine is the anticipated indication of what is new which will come from the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. 
At the end of the first century, the first Christians discussed concerning the validity of the Old Testament. Some no longer wanted to know anything about the Old Testament. In the meeting of the apostles in Jerusalem, James defended the continuity of the use of the Old Testament (Acts 15, 13-21). In fact, at the beginning of the second century, Marcione rejected the Old Testament and remained only with the books of the New Testament. Some even affirmed that after the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus of Nazareth should no longer be remembered, but that we should speak only of the Risen Christ. In the name of the Holy Spirit, they said: “Anathema Jesus!” (I Co 12, 3).

John 2, 6: The jars for the ablutions are empty
It is a question of a small detail, very significant. The jars were usually full, especially during a feast. Here they are empty! Why? The observance of the law of purification, symbolized by the six jars, has exhausted all their possibilities. The ancient law has already succeeded to prepare the people to be able to have the union of grace and justification before God. The jars, the old Covenant, are empty! They are no longer capable to generate a new life.

John 2, 7-8: Jesus and the servants
The recommendation of the Mother of Jesus to the servants is the last order of the Old Testament: “Do whatever He tells you!” The Old Testament looks toward Jesus. From now on, the words and gestures and actions of Jesus will be the ones to direct our life. Jesus calls the servants and orders them to fill the six empty jars. In all, over six hundred litres! Immediately He orders them to draw from the jars and to take to the president of the ceremony. This initiative of Jesus takes place without the intervention of the president of the feast. Neither Jesus, nor His Mother, nor the servants were obviously the patrons. No one of them went to ask permission from the president or the bridegroom. Renewal passes for the persons who do not belong to the centre of power.

John 2, 9-10: Discovery of the sign by the president of the feast
The president of the feast tasted the water transformed into wine and said to the bridegroom: “Everyone serves good wine first. But you have kept the best wine until now!” The president of the feast, the Old Testament, recognizes publicly that the New is better! Where before there was water for the rite of the ablutions of the Jews, now there is abundant wine for the feast. There was a lot of wine! Over six hundred litres, and the feast was almost over! Which is the sense of this abundance? What was done with the wine which was left over? We are drinking it up until now!

John 2, 11-12: Comment of the Evangelist
This is the first sign. In the Fourth Gospel, the first sign takes place to help in the building up of the family, of the community, in order to mend the relationships between persons. Other six signs will follow. John does not use the wordmiracle, but the word sign. The word sign indicates that the actions of Jesus in behalf of the persons have a more profound value, that can only be discovered with the X-Rays of faith. The small community which had formed around Jesus that week, seeing the sign, was ready to perceive the more profound significance and “believe in Him”.

c) Extending the information:

* A much expected Wedding

In the Gospel of John, the beginning of the public life of Jesus takes place in a wedding feast, a moment of great joy and of great hope. For this same reason, the wedding at Cana has a very intense symbolical significance. In the Bible, matrimony is the image used to signify the realization of the perfect union between God and His people. This marriage between God and His people was expected for a long time, for over eight hundred years!

It was prophet Hosea (toward the year 750 BC) that, for the first time, he represented the hope of this marriage when he narrates the parable of the infidelity of the people before the proposal of Yahweh. The monarchy in Israel had abandoned Yahweh and his mercy, leading the people towards false gods. But the Prophet, sure of God’s love, says that the people will be led once again to the desert to listen to the following promise from God: “I shall betroth you to myself forever, I shall betroth you in uprightness and justice, and faithful love and tenderness,. Yes, I shall betroth you to myself in loyalty and in the knowledge of Yahweh!” (Hos 2, 21-22). This marriage between God and the people indicates that the ideal of the exodus will be attained (Hos 2, 4-25). About a hundred and fifty years later, the prophet Jeremiah takes the words of Hosea to denounce the monarchy of Judah. And he says that Judah will have the same destiny as Israel because of its infidelity (Jer 2, 2-5; 3, 11-13). But Jeremiah also looks towards the hope of a perfect marriage with the following novelty: it will be the woman who will seduce the husband (Jer 31, 22). And in spite of the crisis created by the exile of Babylonia, the people do not lose hope that one day this marriage will take place. Yahweh will have compassion of his abandoned spouse (Is 54, 1-8). With the return of the exiled, the “Abandoned one” will again be the spouse accepted with great joy (Is 62, 4-5).

Finally, looking at the Novelty which is taking place, John the Baptist looks towards Jesus, the awaited bridegroom (Jn 3, 29). In his teachings and conversations with the people, Jesus takes back the parable of Hosea, the dream of the perfect marriage. He presents himself as the awaited for bridegroom (Mk 2, 19). In his conversation with the Samaritan woman, he discreetly presents himself as the true bridegroom, the seventh one (Jn 4, 16-17). The Christian communities will accept Jesus as the awaited for bridegroom (2 Co 11, 2; Eph 5, 25-31). The wedding at Cana wishes to show that Jesus is the true bridegroom who arrives for the so awaited wedding, bringing a tasteful and abundant wine. This definitive marriage is described with beautiful images in the book of Apocalypses (Ap 19, 7-8; 21, 1a 22, 5).

* The Mother of Jesus in the Gospel of John

Even though she is never called with the name of Mary, the Mother of Jesus appears two times in the Gospel of John: at the beginning of the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2, 1-5), and at the end, at the foot of the Cross (Jn 19, 25-27). In both cases she represents the Old Testament which is waiting for the New one to arrive, and in both cases, she contributes to the arrival of the New One. Mary is the bond of union between what was before and that which will come afterwards. At Cana, she, the Mother of Jesus, symbol of the Old Testament, is the one who perceives the limitations of the Old Testament and takes the necessary steps in order to attain to the New one. At the foot of the Cross, she is at the side of the “Beloved Disciple”. The Beloved Disciple is the community which grows around Jesus, he is the son born from the Old Testament. At the petition of Jesus, the son, the New Testament, receives Mary, the Old Testament, in his house. Both of them have to walk together. In fact, the New one cannot be understood without the Old one. The New one would have no basis, foundation. And the Old one without the New one would be incomplete: a tree without fruit.

* The Seven Days of the New Creation

The text begins by saying: “On the third day” (Jn 2, 1). in the previous chapter, John had already repeated the expression: “On the following day” (Jn 1, 29.35.43). Considering this, it offers the following schema: The witness of John the Baptist on Jesus (Jn 1, 19-28) takes place on the first day. “The day after” (Jn 1, 29), that is the second day, is the Baptism of Jesus (Jn 1, 29-34). The third day, the call of the disciples and of Peter takes place (Jn 1, 35-42). On the fourth day, Jesus calls Philip and Philip calls Nathanael (Jn 1, 43-51). finally, “three days later” that is on the seventh day, that is, on Saturday, the first sign, that of the Wedding at Cana, takes place (Jn 2, 1). Throughout the Gospel, Jesus realizes seven signs.

John uses the outline of the week to present the beginning of the activity of Jesus. The Old Testament uses the same outline to present creation. In the first six days, God created all things calling them by name. On the seventh day he rested, and worked no more (Jn 1, 1-2, 4). In the same way, Jesus in the first days of his activity, He calls the persons and creates the community, the new humanity. On the seventh day, that is on Saturday, Jesus does not rest, but works the first sign. Throughout the next chapters, from 2 until 19 included, he realizes six other signs, always on Saturday (Jn 5, 16; 9, 14). Finally, in the morning of the Resurrection, when Mary Magdalene goes to the sepulchre, it is said: “the first day of the week” (Jn 20, 1). It is the first day of the new creation, after that prolonged Saturday in which Jesus worked the seven signs. Accused of working on Saturday, Jesus answers: “My Father still goes on working and I am at work too” (Jn 5, 17). Through the activity of Jesus between Cana and the Cross, the Father completes what is lacking in the old creation, in a way in which the new creation can emerge in the Resurrection of Jesus.

6. Pray with Psalm 148

Alleluia! Praise Yahweh from the heavens, 
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels, 
praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon, 
praise him, all shining stars,
praise him, highest heavens, 
praise him, waters above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of Yahweh 
at whose command they were made;
he established them for ever 
and ever by an unchanging decree.

Praise Yahweh from the earth, 
sea-monsters and all the depths,
fire and hail, snow and mist, 
storm-winds that obey his word,
mountains and every hill, 
orchards and every cedar,
wild animals and all cattle, 
reptiles and winged birds,
kings of the earth and all nations, 
princes and all judges on earth,
young men and girls, 
old people and children together.

Let them praise the name of Yahweh, 
for his name alone is sublime, 
his splendour transcends earth and heaven.
For he heightens the strength of his people, 
to the praise of all his faithful, 
the children of Israel, 
the people close to him.

7. Final Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practice the Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

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