Segundo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario 2025

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas:

Acabamos de finalizar el tiempo de Navidad y la Iglesia nos invita ahora a entrar en el tiempo ordinario, en el que tendremos la oportunidad de meditar en el ministerio público de Jesús. Las lecturas de este domingo nos invitan a imitar al profeta Isaías y decir con él: «Por amor a Jerusalén no callaré». El apóstol san Pablo nos invita a reconocer los dones que el Señor nos regala para la edificación de la comunidad, y el evangelio según Juan nos lleva a contemplar el primer milagro de Jesús, que consiste en convertir el agua en el mejor vino servido en esa fiesta de bodas en Caná. Hay momentos en la vida en que no podemos callar, ya sea porque nuestros corazones se desbordan de alegría o porque nos levantamos contra alguna situación que nos parece insoportable y tenemos que alzar la voz para defender nuestros derechos. En el caso del profeta Isaías, este levanta su voz para recorder a Jerusalén que vendrán días mejores, porque se cumplirán las promesas de Dios, hasta el punto de que ya no la llamarán abandonada ni a su tierra devastada, sino mi complacencia y a tu tierra desposada. Te invito a que te preguntes hoy: ¿por qué o por quién no te callas? O ¿qué te hace levantar la voz?

Hay varios elementos dignos de mención en este primer signo que realiza Jesús en Caná de Galilea. Primero, es una boda, una de las celebraciones más alegres entre los seres humanos, en la que se celebra el compromiso y la bendición del amor de pareja. Segundo, se acaba el vino, y es como si se acabara la alegría. Tercero, María y los que sirven se dan cuenta de que se ha terminado el vino. Quinto, María le pide a su hijo que intervenga en favor de los novios y de todos los presentes. Sexto, María les pide a los sirvientes que hagan lo que Jesús les diga. Séptimo, por su parte, Jesús les pide su colaboración para llenar las tinajas de agua, que finalmente se convertirá en el mejor vino de la fiesta. Es importante señalar que Jesús no hace aparecer el vino por arte de magia, sino que pide la colaboración de algunas personas. Muchas veces, cuando Dios quiere actuar, nos pide que colaboremos, que no seamos sujetos pasivos que esperan que todo les caiga del cielo, sino que también nosotros ayudemos para que se produzca el milagro, como sucedió en la multiplicación de los panes. Te pregunto: ¿eres de los que se sientan a esperar a que los milagros caigan del cielo o de los que dicen «a Dios rezando y con el mazo dando»?

Octavo, María, la intercesora. María se ubica en el relato como alguien que no solo disfruta de la fiesta, sino que también está al tanto de lo que está sucediendo y, por eso, nota que no hay vino. Pero no solo eso, sino que le pide a su hijo que intervenga y, además, les indica a los sirvientes que deben obedecer a Jesús.

Creo que estas tres características reflejan la labor intercesora de María a nuestro favor. Ella nota lo que nos hace falta, interviene a nuestro favor y nos pide que no solo escuchemos a su hijo, sino que también hagamos su voluntad. Al igual que su hijo, ella quiere que la alegría y el gozo de los novios

nunca se acaben. Ojalá nunca nos falte el vino de la esperanza, la fe, la caridad, el perdón y la misericordia, y que nunca nos falte la alegría que brota de saber que Jesús y María están con nosotros. En este año jubilar que acabamos de comenzar, pide a Jesús que nunca te falte la esperanza y la motivación necesaria para practicar las obras de misericordia y amar a los demás.

A la luz de la reflexión que venimos haciendo. Hoy podrías preguntarte desde qué lugar te ubicas en la fiesta: ¿como invitado que solo llega para disfrutar sin importarle nada más o como el que sirve y prepara todo para que los invitados lo pasen bien? Si llevamos esto al plano de la eucaristía, también podemos preguntarnos qué lugar ocupas tú en tu iglesia. ¿Eres de los que llegan simplemente a vivir y disfrutar de la celebración eucarística, de los que llegan a preparar para que todo esté dispuesto o de los que llegan a preparar y disfrutar del banquete del Señor? Quizá también deberías preguntarte cómo podrías colaborar más en tu iglesia para que nunca nos falte el gozo de disfrutar de una buena eucaristía.

P. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

My dear brothers and sisters, we have just finished the Christmas season and the Church now invites us to enter into ordinary time, in which we will have the opportunity to meditate on the public ministry of Jesus. The readings for this Sunday invite us to imitate the prophet Isaiah and say with him: “For the sake of Jerusalem I will not keep silent.” The apostle Saint Paul invites us to recognize the gifts that the Lord gives us for the edification of the community, and the Gospel according to John leads us to contemplate the first miracle of Jesus, which consists in turning water into the best wine served at that wedding feast in Cana. There are moments in life when we cannot keep silent, either because our hearts overflow with joy or because we rise up against a situation that seems unbearable to us and we have to raise our voice to defend our rights. In the case of the prophet Isaiah, he raises his voice to remind Jerusalem that better days will come, because God's promises will be fulfilled, to the point that they will no longer call her abandoned or her land devastated, but my delight and your espoused land. I invite you to ask yourself today: why or for whom are you not silent? Or what makes you raise your voice?

There are several elements worth mentioning in this first sign that Jesus performs in Cana of Galilee. First, it is a wedding, one of the most joyful celebrations among human beings, in which the commitment and blessing of the love of a couple is celebrated. Second, the wine runs out, and it is as if the joy has run out. Third, Mary and the servants realize that the wine has run out. Fifth, Mary asks her son to intervene on behalf of the bride and groom and all those present. Sixth, Mary asks the servants to do what Jesus tells them. Seventh, for his part, Jesus asks them to help him fill the jars with water, which will eventually become the best wine at the party. It is important to note that Jesus does not make the wine appear by magic, but rather asks for the collaboration of some people. Many times, when God wants to act, he asks us to collaborate, not to be passive subjects who wait for everything to fall from the sky, but to help so that the miracle happens, as happened in the multiplication of the loaves. I ask you: are you one of those who sit and wait for miracles to fall from the sky or one of those who say "pray to God and keep hitting the hammer"?

Eighth, Mary, the intercessor. Mary is positioned in the story as someone who not only enjoys the party, but is also aware of what is happening and, therefore, notices that there is no wine. But not only that, but she asks her son to intervene and, furthermore, she instructs the servants that they must obey Jesus.

I believe that these three characteristics reflect Mary's intercessory work on our behalf. She notices what we lack, intervenes on our behalf, and asks us not only to listen to her son, but also to do his will. Like her son, she wants the joy and happiness of the bride and groom to never end. May we never lack the wine of hope, faith, charity, forgiveness, and mercy, and may we never lack the joy that comes from knowing that Jesus and Mary are with us. In this jubilee year that we have just begun, ask Jesus that you never lack the hope and motivation necessary to practice the works of mercy and love others.

In light of the reflection we have been making, today you could ask yourself where you are at the party: as a guest who only comes to enjoy without caring about anything else or as the one who serves and prepares everything so that the guests have a good time? If we take this to the level of the Eucharist, we can also ask ourselves what place you occupy in your church. Are you one of those who come simply to live and enjoy the Eucharistic celebration, one of those who come to prepare so that everything is ready or one of those who come to prepare and enjoy the Lord's banquet? Perhaps you should also ask yourself how you could collaborate more in your church so that we never lack the joy of enjoying a good Eucharist.

Fr. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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A Call to Celebrate…

The Gospel of today’s liturgy recounts the episode of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus transformed water into wine for the joy of the newlyweds. And the Gospel ends: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2:11). We notice that the evangelist John does not speak of a miracle, that is, of a powerful and extraordinary deed that causes wonder. He writes that a sign took place at Cana, that sparked the faith of his disciples. We can, then, ask ourselves: What is a “sign” according to the Gospel?

A sign is a clue that reveals God’s love, that does not call attention to the power of the action, but to the love that caused it. It teaches us something about God’s love that is always near, tender and compassionate. The first sign took place when a couple faced a difficulty on the most important day of their lives. Right in the middle of the feast, an essential element was missing, the wine, and their joy ran the risk of being dampened among the criticism and dissatisfaction of the guests. Just imagine how a wedding feast could continue only with water!

It is Our Lady who became aware of the problem and discretely brought it to Jesus’ attention. And he intervened without fanfare, almost without being noticed. Everything took place with discretion, everything took place “behind the scenes” — Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water, which

became wine. This is how God acts: with closeness and with discretion. Jesus’ disciples understood this: they saw that, thanks to him, the wedding banquet became even more beautiful. And they also saw the way Jesus acted — the way he served in hiddenness. This is how Jesus is — he helps us, he serves us in hiddenness, in that moment, so much so that it was the bridegroom who was complimented for the good wine. No one noticed, only the servants. This is how the seed of faith began to develop within them — that is, they believed that God, God’s love, was present in Jesus.

There is another distinctive characteristic about the sign at Cana. Generally, the wine provided at the end of the feast was the one that was less good — this is still done today. At that point, people do not distinguish as well whether it is good wine or wine that has been watered down a little. Jesus, instead, makes sure that the feast ends with the best wine. Symbolically, this tells us that God wants what is better for us, he wants us to be happy. He does not set limits and he does not ask us for interest. There is no place for ulterior motives or demands placed on the newlyweds, in Jesus’ sign. No, the joy Jesus brought to their hearts was complete and disinterested joy. It was not “watered down joy”!

Today, let us try to rummage through our memories, looking for signs that the Lord accomplished in my life. Let each of us say: what are the signs the Lord accomplished in my life? What are the hints of his presence, the signs that he did to show us that he loves us? Let us think about that difficult moment in which God let me experience his love… And let us ask ourselves: with which discrete and loving signs did he let me feel his tenderness? When did I feel the Lord nearer? When did I feel his tenderness and his compassion? Every one of us has these moments in our personal history. Let us relive the moments in which we experienced his presence and Mary’s intercession. May she, the Mother who is always attentive as at Cana, help us treasure the signs of God’s presence in our lives. [Synthesized from Pope Francis, Angelus 16 I 2022]

Rev. Rajesh Peter M.S.C.

Sunday, January 19, 2025 The Jubilee Year of our Lord 2025

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

My friends, in this homily I focus on two separate points:

1. The Wedding at Cana, with the focus on Mary and her trust in Jesus.

2. The teachings of the Gospel writer, John the Evangelist regarding Signs.

Mary and her trust in Jesus

         Our gospel story today begins with a wedding celebration in Cana.  It was a celebration of love, joy, and new life for the newly married couple.  We know that Mary and Jesus and five of his disciples (John 1:40-45) were also there to share in this joyful celebration.

         My friends, this story shows us Mary's beautiful and unwavering faith in Jesus.  Instinctively, Mary turned to Jesus when there was no more wine to serve, which might have spoiled the wedding celebration, but she had raised Jesus, and she knew her son.  Even when Mary did not know what Jesus was going to do, even when it seemed that he had refused her request, Mary still believed in him so much so that she turned to the servers and told them to do whatever Jesus instructed them to do.  Mary had faith and trusted in Jesus to do the right thing even when she did not fully understand what Jesus was capable of doing.

         It is interesting to note that when Jesus said to Mary, "Woman, how does your concern affect me?”  The word “Woman” might seem to be disrespectful but in the original translation, John used the word "gunai" which is a respectful way to address a woman.  Jesus used the same word when speaking to his mother Mary as she stood at the foot of the Cross.

         Another phrase which is important to note in this gospel is what Jesus said to Mary, "My hour has not yet come."  Many times, throughout the gospels Jesus talks about his hour.  Jesus knew that he had come into this world for a definite purpose and definite task of joining heaven and earth, God and mankind.  He knew his life was not to do his own will, but to do the will of the Father who sent him. 

         So, this gospel shows us that we can live our life like Mary, trusting in Jesus even when we don’t understand what He will do, and we can act as the servants did by doing what Jesus instructs us to do.  The result is that Mary and the servants witnessed a great sign from God.

         Now, we live our life to do the will of the Father and we pray the prayer: “Thy Will be done.”

The teachings of the Gospel writer, John the Evangelist regarding Signs.

My friends, our gospel story today begins with a wedding celebration in Cana.  We are at the beginning of Ordinary Time in our Liturgical Year (Cycle C).  And the gospel begins with the Book of Signs.  John’s gospel contains Seven Signs:

• Turning Water Into Wine (John 2:1-12) ...

• Healing the Nobleman's Son (John 4:46-54) ...

• Healing the Man at the Pool (John 5:1-11) ...

• Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15) ...

• Walking on Water (John 6:16-21) ...

• Healing a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-12) ...

• Resurrecting Lazarus (John 11)

         Regarding today's gospel, as well as many other parts of Scripture, it is good to remember that some words have a deeper meaning than the literal meaning.  For example, the Number Seven represents complete or full.  The number six represents unfinished or incomplete as in the six jars of water at the wedding party.

         At this wedding feast, there were six stone jars of water and at the command of Jesus, the water became wine.  According to Barclay’s Gospel Commentary, the six stone water jars stand for all the imperfections of the Jewish law.  Jesus came to do away with the imperfections of the Jewish law and to put in their place the new wine of the gospel of love.  Jesus turned the imperfection of the law into the perfection of grace.

         John points out that there were six water jars; each holding between twenty or thirty gallons of water and Jesus turned the water into wine.  This means there was up to 180 gallons of wine.  That’s a lot of wine considering that the guests already drank all the wine that was there before Jesus acted. 

         Obviously, John did not mean the story to be taken literally.  Certainly, at that time, no wedding party could drink 180 gallons of wine; even if the wine in those jars was the good wine, according to the headwaiter.  What John meant was that when the grace of Christ Jesus comes to us, there is enough to share and enough to spare.  No need on earth can exhaust the grace of Christ; there is a glorious abundance for everyone.

         John is telling us that in Jesus, the imperfections have become perfected, and his grace has become unlimited, sufficient; even more than sufficient for every need.

Now we can begin to see what John is teaching us.  Every story tells us; not of something Jesus did only once and never again, but of signs which he is forever manifesting.

Also, John the Evangelist wants us to see beyond the events recorded in the Bible.  He wants us to see that whenever Jesus intervenes in our lives, there is a new sign, just like when he turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana.  Without Jesus, life is dull and stale and flat; when Jesus is invited, life becomes vivid and rich.  When we invite Jesus into our life, we can see the signs of his love and grace every day and experience the joy of life.