Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

The Gospel of this coming Sunday presents Jesus at a wedding. Jesus and his disciples have been invited at a wedding (Jn 2:2). There, the first miracle happens. The evangelist John calls that miracle the first of the “signs”.  A wedding is a moment of joyful encounter and friendship. Not only for those getting married by also for those who are invited.  It is in this context of joy and friendship that Jesus reveals himself as a “wonder-worker”, as someone who is able to change water into good wine. He reveals himself as God because only God has the power to change water into good wine. He reveals his glory (Jn 2:11), though partially because his full glory will be revealed on the Cross.

The Gospel tells us that after the miracle, his disciples began to believe in him (Jn 2:11). To believe in him means to be in relationship with him, to follow him and to live like him. Perhaps instead of considering Jesus as someone invited, it’s better to say that He is the one who is inviting. He is inviting us to know him. And the context in which is inviting us to know him is at a wedding and in a company of friends. In fact, later on in the Gospel of John, Jesus will say to his disciples: I have called you my friends (Jn 15: 15).

Indeed, being a Christian is a call to be in the mood of a wedding, the mood of joyful encounter and friendship…with God the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit and with our brothers and sisters, those we meet at the wedding.

Central to this new friendship is the figure of Mary mother of Jesus and our mother. She is also invited. As a good mother, she perceives the need. They have no wine, she said (Jn 2: 3). Though she seems rebuked by the Son (Jn 2:4), she persists to beg. She knows that the Son can provide the good wine for the joy and gladness of all. That is why she said: “do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). Indeed, Jesus exhausts her request.

Christian Catholics are sometimes accused to “worship Mama Mary” because of their devotion to her as a mother who intercedes. Shall we respond that the Gospel of John gives us means to respond.  The virgin Mary, mother of God is a mother who feels our needs and intercedes for us. She is our “intercessor”. All what she wants from us is “obedience” to God. She asks us to do “whatever he tells us”! She asks us to follow her example in saying: “May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). 

As listeners of this Gospel of this coming Sunday, we pray that our journey may be like that of the disciples at the wedding at Cana. After seeing the miracle, they began to believe in him (Jn 2: 11). Are we believing in him after all the miracles he has done in our lives?

For those among us looking for more miracles, let us ask the virgin Mary to intercede for us as we commit ourselves to believe in Jesus. Let us also remember that the teaching of the catholic church on miracles is:

• The miracles cannot be separated from Jesus’ teaching and action but they signify and usher in the kingdom of God.
• The miracles are ambiguous: Jesus sometimes refuses to perform any and he knows they do not automatically command faith. Miracles achieve their purpose when they lead to personal relationship with Jesus as in the Gospel of this Sunday.
• Not all sickness can be attributed to diabolic possession, ignoring the progress of medicine. Jesus himself questioned the link between sickness and diabolic possession.
• It is obedience to the word of God that works salvation, not miracles interventions.
• The Eucharist we celebrate every Sunday is the great miracle in a sense that through bread and wine consecrated during the mass, Jesus gives himself to us. But the Eucharist, a memorial of his passion and death, is not only the gift Jesus makes of his life for us. It also invites us to follow him, to become ourselves Eucharistic bread and good wine for others.