January 16-17, 2010
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 62:1-5 First Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11
In the midst of heavy theological discussions, dogmatic pronouncements and spiritual posturing by those who rarely crack a smile or seemingly never find joy in life, it is confounding that Jesus’ FIRST public miracle was done in the midst of a wedding RECEPTION…. and involved the transformation of water into wine!!!!
How come not a cure for cancer? How come not an end to war or disease? Why not freedom from bi-polar disease or depression or despair? Why not an endless supply of ever-flowing compassion and tender outreach to the burdened and dejected? Instead, Jesus offers us more wine?!?!?! Come to think of it, not unlike the final gift he offered at the Last Supper, the gift of Eucharist, ‘take and eat, this is my body…. take and drink, this is my blood….’, which occurred in the context of a familial meal…the Passover Supper…. that necessarily included the whole families of the disciples (no…it did not look like the Da Vinci painting in the Sistine Chapel!!!) There seems to be a subtle yet unmistakable message being conveyed in these foundational actions by Jesus…. celebration, joy, community.
So much for those who want to use Jesus as the ultimate punishment and the rod by which people are to be punished for not measuring up to human precepts…. it appears that Jesus was more concerned with the reception guests being able to continue celebrating…and that meant drinking alcoholic beverages! (For those of you who want to imagine it was grape juice…sorry…it was wine…and probably stronger alcohol content than our modest levels of today.) How can you not be intrigued by a God/Man whose first BIG miracle is the transformation of water into wine!?!?!? From a PR stance, this miracle is pure gold…. akin to social ‘stimulus package’ about which lots of people will talk and spread the word that somebody new is in town.
So, what’s your image, impression of Jesus? If we were to truly start afresh this year hearing of Jesus…what would be your reaction to a God/Man who made more wine for people to drink? No threats, no heavy ten commandments…. come and have a drink…. draw close…and let’s start a conversation…which may lead to a relationship….which may lead to a whole lot more. BUT….it all begins with CELEBRATION….perhaps we have forgotten that Jesus himself said, ‘I have come so that people may have life and live it to the full.’ I think we can all raise our glasses to that concept as a wonderful way to begin 2010!!!!
Thank you for sharing our CELEBRATION of Mass this weekend with our Corpus Christi Community. If you have recently joined our parish, please make sure that you complete a Registration Form (available on the Concierge Shelves) so that we can officially add you to our family. By now you should have received our first Pastoral Services Appeal (PSA) letter and Diocesan brochure…and this coming week we will be mailing out OUR full packet of material: ‘The Prayer of Our Family’. Please settle yourself comfortably when you begin to read it…and let the grace…and prayers of thousands…enfold you and guide you as you make your pledge determination. As always, the Bulletin awaits you on your way home with news of events to come, please accept one form our Hospitality Ministers. With winter almost 1/3 gone….remember, you are loved! FKB
