Saturday Before Epiphany
7th January 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 JOHN 5. 14-21
14.And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15.And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 16.If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and Goda will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17.All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. 18.We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19.We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20.And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21.Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
PSALM 149:1b-2,3-4,5-6a and 9b (R.4a)
Response: The Lord takes delight in his people or Alleluia
Gospel : JOHN 2. 1-11
1.On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2.Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3.When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4.And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5.His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6.Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7.Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8.And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9.When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10.and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11.This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: God in history!
Indicative: We are living in a world that is predominantly under the power of evil. For sure we will be attacked and disturbed. But as long as we belong to God and adhere to Him, evil shall not strike us down{alertSuccess}
1. In the gospel, we have the miracle of the wedding in Cana. When the wine ran short, Jesus intervenes at the mediation of the Mother Mary and changes water into wine. As we are just at the beginning of the New Year, this miracle can be a great assurance and comfort in our journey in the new year.
2. Four aspects can be highlighted: our own life situation; the power of Mary’s intercession and mediation; Jesus’ intervention and transformation and our response and cooperation to God’s action.
3. The wedding at Cana is very symbolic of our own life situation. We too come across similar experiences. There will be moments of scarcity and lack. Our resources will run out. Our efforts will fall short. There will be pressing situations of fear, problem, uncertainty, failure and disgrace, shame and dishonour.
4. In such situations, Mary comes to our rescue. There is a sense of sensitivity, solidarity, and remedy toward the wedding family. She senses their problem even without being told. She anticipates their need even before being requested. She becomes one with them. She feels their difficulty. She takes the initiative to remedy their problem-situation.
5. She turns to Jesus. She recommends and pleads on their behalf. She has the freedom, confidence, and intimacy to approach her beloved Son. She does not seek self-recognition. She is not attention-seeking. Rather, she turns everyone’s attention to Jesus. She directs the servants to do what the Lord tells them to do.
6. The power of her intercession and mediation is great. Jesus loves her and respects her. So he does not reject her request. He anticipates his “hour” just for her sake. He intervenes in their desperate situation. He changes water into wine. It is not just a miraculous happening. There is Restoration and transformation. Honour and dignity are restored. Scarcity is replaced by Abundance. There is a solution in the place of the problem. Fear and uncertainty turn into confidence and assurance. Failure is changed into success.
7. There is also something to be done on our part. We need to “fill the jars with water to the brim”. This is highly suggestive. The jars with water stand for our life with their human capacities, resources, and efforts. God is certainly willing to intervene and transform our life situations. But he wants our human cooperation. That too, he wants to the brim, in full measures. He wants us to cooperate with His grace to the best and the maximum.
Imperative: Many problems and fears may continue to haunt and torment us in the New Year too. But we need not be worried too much. Because we have the sweetest Mother Mary to intercede for us and mediate on our behalf. Jesus is always there to intervene and change our life situations for the better{alertSuccess}