The beginning of His signs
Published Jan 6, 2023 06:33 pm
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Today’s Gospel records the first sign (Greek semeion) or miracle that Jesus performed in the Gospel of John. Jesus intervenes in a potential crisis by turning water into wine, thus saving the host from embarrassment. But this becomes an opportunity for Jesus’ glory to be revealed. The image of the wine, of course, anticipates what Jesus will be, not just for the wedding guests of Cana, but for the whole world: the cup or chalice (of the wine) of salvation. What is the nearest to a miracle that we have witnessed? A miracle is, from human point of view, that which defies natural or scientific explanation. And miracles are thought to be rare. But actually, if we look closely at the things and events around us, we would see miracles everywhere: things and phenomena that utterly strike or overwhelm us in our unbelief. Nature alone is a miracle in itself. But sadly, we only see trees, fishes, and rivers to exploit or make money from. People always look for signs from the time of Jesus (and even before) up to now. But little do they know that they are surrounded by them. They are not just wearing the proper “glasses.”
FIRST READING • 1 John 5:14-21
Beloved: We have this confidence in God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by God he protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Children, be on your guard against idols.
GOSPEL • John 2:1-11
There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from although the servers who had drawn the water knew, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Today’s Gospel records the first sign (Greek semeion) or miracle that Jesus performed in the Gospel of John. Jesus intervenes in a potential crisis by turning water into wine, thus saving the host from embarrassment. But this becomes an opportunity for Jesus’ glory to be revealed. The image of the wine, of course, anticipates what Jesus will be, not just for the wedding guests of Cana, but for the whole world: the cup or chalice (of the wine) of salvation. What is the nearest to a miracle that we have witnessed? A miracle is, from human point of view, that which defies natural or scientific explanation. And miracles are thought to be rare. But actually, if we look closely at the things and events around us, we would see miracles everywhere: things and phenomena that utterly strike or overwhelm us in our unbelief. Nature alone is a miracle in itself. But sadly, we only see trees, fishes, and rivers to exploit or make money from. People always look for signs from the time of Jesus (and even before) up to now. But little do they know that they are surrounded by them. They are not just wearing the proper “glasses.”
FIRST READING • 1 John 5:14-21
Beloved: We have this confidence in God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by God he protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Children, be on your guard against idols.
GOSPEL • John 2:1-11
There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from although the servers who had drawn the water knew, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.