Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Bulletin
As we move into Ordinary Time, as we move from last week's celebration of the Lord's baptism, which marked the end of the Christmas season, today's readings invite us to look at the importance and meaning of prayer in our lives, and particularly the celebration of the Eucharist and its sign of grace.

In the story of the wedding at Cana, Mary approaches her son to express her concern that the bride and groom have run out of wine for their guests. We are not sure what to make of Jesus’ response, “How does this matter of yours concern me?” As it turns out, it does matter to him, and he takes that moment to reveal the first of signs of his grace.

We step back from the particulars of this story and discover deeper meaning. Mary represents the person of faith who approaches God with concerns. Often prayer is giving voice to our concerns and heartaches and worries. As Mary turned to her son with her concerns, we go to prayer with our petitions and requests, revealing the burdens we carry in our hearts.

But there is more that Mary reveals. She trusts. She tells the stewards, “Do whatever he says,” knowing her son heard her and would act. She waited, hopeful. It is the same for us. We offer our prayers of petition, trusting God hears our prayers. We wait, hopeful.

The story, then, appears to offer a deeper understanding of prayer, of belief in the need to make petitions, of Jesus' power to help us—and even the possibility of transformation and change in our lives. Imagine the surprise and wonder of the couple at Cana at the miraculous appearance of more wine, and what this sign meant for them. They were the first of many who would beneficiaries of Jesus' miracles. Perhaps for them, their union would be a sign of a new kind of covenant, their love meant to be expressed in an abundance of compassion for others.

The appearance of wine made from water at the wedding at Cana becomes a sign of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary, commemorated at the Last Supper in the blessing of bread and wine, a sign of hope and new life. No longer is there a need for concern when there is not enough. Grace will always pour out in abundance for those who believe.

When we gather for Eucharist, we lift up our prayers with the bread and wine we bless. We wait, trusting our prayers, our concerns and troubles and worries, are heard. With the bread and wine, our gifts of petition are received. We know the one who gave his life away for our salvation, will hears us as he did his mother. His grace will touch our lives.

Later in the text, we are told the reason for the miracle at Cana. “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory...” What were these signs he showed? What did they reveal? The story of this first miracle, of changing water to wine at a wedding party, seems inconsequential when there would be other, later, signs of miraculous healings.

The sign of Cana, a sign revealed at a wedding of all places, can reveal many layers of meaning. I offer one. The sign of Cana points to God's compassion and mercy, revealed and made flesh in the Son, the God who hears the concerns and petitions of those who cry out in prayer.

It is the God who uses a wedding feast as the stage for the Son's first miracle, to reveal to all people, especially those who suffer and are forgotten, that the kingdom of God will be like that feast, where a table is set for all to find comfort, and nourishment, and peace, and love.

A feast where there will be an abundance and, like the water made into wine at Cana, it will all be the best.