I believe

The liturgical season is in Ordinary Time. As we move from Christmas to this new season it is important to understand how “liturgy is an action” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1136) in the life of church as the Holy Spirit enables us to gather in the sacramental life. The seasons steer our action as Catholics, pointing us deeper into the mystery of Christ’s mission and God’s plan for salvation. The word of God, Jesus Christ, resounds throughout the celebration of Mass. His presence in the readings and the Eucharist is real. As a community, we gather as one body in Christ through the Holy Spirit to worship, adore, petition, sacrifice and give thanks for all the blessings God has poured forth. We truly celebrate our call to discipleship as followers of Jesus. Thus, we begin this new season with the 2nd and 3rd Sundays in Ordinary Time with Jesus’ first public miracle and foundations of his appointed mission.

A marriage at Cana (Jn 2:1-11)

Jesus, his mother and disciples were invited to a wedding feast. Jewish wedding celebrations lasted far longer than ones we experience in present day. Similarly, weddings were and still are familial celebrations, filled with food and festivities. St. John recounts this event by drawing us into the crisis of the moment: “When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ ” Culturally speaking, this failure to have enough wine would be a marked embarrassment on the host family. Jesus’ reply to his mother comes in question form but is a response that opens the door to his public ministry. He states, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” Meaning, “What is this to you and me?” His hour is coming indeed, coming by his passion, death and resurrection. Yet now, the hour has come; his public mission is set in motion, and Mary, without hesitation, calls the servers, telling them, “Do whatever he tells you.” 

Obedience to Christ

The servers did precisely as Jesus said, filling water to the brim of vessels meant for ceremonial handwashing. Yet, this time, instead of washing hands, wine is poured out and the celebration becomes even more elaborate since the wine is “choice.” This miracle is a sign which points to something greater: Jesus’ action at the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist and on the cross, his ultimate action, his sacrifice of love to the father to save us from death as water and blood poured forth from his side. Life and mercy. Through baptism, we are cleansed from original sin, and in the Eucharist we eat and drink his body and blood. Water. Wine. Life abundant.

We believe

We read in the final verse of this miracle account, “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.” The disciples began to believe in him. Up until this moment, they saw Jesus as a great teacher, one to follow, to learn from and to know. But this event opened their eyes to his glory: the way, the truth and the life. This was the start of Jesus’ public mission. And they believed.

Fulfillment (Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21)

The 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time holds the beginning of the Gospel according to St. Luke. He writes to Theophilus, stating after investigating, reading and hearing eyewitness testimony, he will now present in detail the life of Jesus Christ. In Chapter 4, we read that word spread of Jesus throughout the land. Here, St. Luke recounts Jesus’ return to his hometown of Nazareth. He, as was customary on the Sabbath, entered the synagogue to teach. Reading from the scroll the words from the prophet Isaiah, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” He then stated to the astonishment of those present, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Today

To the crowd in front of Jesus, his proclamation is intended to reveal the realization that God’s longed-for promise is present. The waiting is over. Hope is fulfilled. The Messiah has come to offer salvation. Next week we hear about the reaction of the crowd. But today, what does this mean to us, missionary disciples of Jesus in 2022? What do we believe when we hear this? What is keeping us captive from “seeing” the reality of the coming of Jesus? Can we authentically fulfill our mission as disciples of Christ, that, led by the Holy Spirit, and God’s call to holiness, we may bring joy to others in all we do? Do we share his life story which will offer freedom to those oppressed by sin? Do we allow others to see Christ within us, as his light radiates from us? Do we receive Jesus’ offer of salvation and share with others his invitation to “come and see?” How can we, as the psalmist writes, “Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations” (Ps 96). Our first step in our call to discipleship is to believe; to assent to God with faith, hope and love. Today is an acceptable time to say “Yes, Lord, I believe!”

For all the saints

During the next two weeks the church will pray for the legal protection of the unborn as well as remember the lives of extraordinary saints: Sts. Anthony, Agnes, Francis de Salles, the Conversion of St. Paul, Timothy, Titus and (my favorite) Thomas Aquinas. All you holy men and women, pray for us! Amen.

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.