Fr. Dale’s Homily
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
January 18-19, 2025
Gospel: John 2:1-11
It’s the bride or groom to-be’s worst nightmare. The reception has been paid for… The invitations are out… The church has been reserved for the appointed hour… Then the partner-to-be drops a BOMBSHELL: “Sorry, I can’t go through with it. Count me out!” But, with unbelievable generosity, she transformed her own sadness and shock into joy for others. She invited 150 homeless people to the reception, a $10,000.00 affair, the likes of which they had never seen. Reveling in the lavish treatment, one guest remarked, “She made us feel like real people AGAIN”.
Weddings in scripture often symbolize that great heavenly banquet at which we will all be gathered after the FINAL judgement. That thought alone ought to give us goosebumps. When we hear the God of the Hebrews referring to Himself as an expectant bridegroom, we say immediately, “well, that’s a figure of speech”. When we hear Jesus speak of Himself as the bridegroom who prefers merriment to mourning, we still don’t get it…
God loves us with the passion of a young bridegroom who can’t wait to get to that altar. No matter how unworthy or unlovable we believe ourselves to be, God whispers in our ears, “It’s all about YOU!” God is the spouse who will NEVER say, “Count me out!” For our part, we will never get “cold feet” if we approach the altar by the path Jesus walked.
Imagine that we are all guests at the wedding feast in Cana. Mary of Nazareth, a friend of the happy couple, has been invited along with her son Jesus and his ‘freshly minted’ disciples. Everyone is toasting, tapping their feet, telling “newlywed jokes”, nibbling on roast lamb. In the midst of all this fun, Mary gives her Son an urgent message. “They have no wine”. No wine? On the practical level, this domestic screw up making the host look bad and the guests will consider leaving early, especially the active alcoholics. On the spiritual level, it symbolizes a short supply of love, life and festivity. Jesus, however, turns His mother down. It’s not his problem. It is not time for him to reveal who He is. Mary says NOTHING. She doesn’t have to. She’s the mother. Mary reflects on the situation and her son’s response. Then, wise Jewish mother that she is, she walks right up to the waiter and says, “Do whatever He tells you”. She has forced her Son’s hand.
Imagine the nerve of Mary. To date, her Son has not performed a single miracle. His disciples will call Him Messiah but they don’t believe it. Mary, on the other hand, has spent the last 30 years pondering the mission of her Son. She believes that He can change the water of sorrow into the wine of lasting joy. He is the only one who can do that…to this day. So, she gives Him a maternal push in the right direction. She knows He will act.
We show ourselves to be worthy wedding guests by doing whatever He tells us. Each of us answers according to our own giftedness.
Those who are wise will give counsel to the doubtful.
Those of strong faith will give witness to the unbelieving.
Those with healing will mend the broken in Spirit.
Those with hospitality will round up the homeless, make them “feel like real people”.
Like Mary @ Cana, we trust her Son. He, in turn, trusts us to do whatever He tells us to do…and if we do, the good wine will last and last and last. We approach the Altar knowing that we are His delight. Imagine that…
A man woke up later than usual one morning and hurried to get ready for work. As he rushed out the front door, his wife of many years called in a cheery voice, “Do you remember what today is?” “Of course, dear!” he spoke as he hopped in the car. A few hours later, the local florist delivered to the wife a bouquet of her favorite yellow roses. Shortly, thereafter, an antiquarian bookseller dropped off a wonderfully wrapped first edition that she has long wanted. And just before dinner, a caterer brought her favorite meal, served in elegant China for two, lit the candles, and left. Moments later, her husband arrived with a little smirk on his face. “And how was YOUR special day?” he asked. “Oh, honey!” she swooned, “I’ve never had such an incredible GROUNDHOG’s DAY!” Some spouses can end up in the DOGHOUSE. What is most important is to remember HOW to get back to the BIG HOUSE.
That is where we are today… in God’s house!