Sunday, January 19, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ! This weekend’s Gospel reading recounts the Wedding at Cana, where Jesus begins His public ministry and performs His first miracle by turning water into wine. When the wine runs out, a moment of potential embarrassment for the hosts, Mary turns to Jesus and asks for His help. At first, Jesus responds, “My hour has not yet come,” which might suggest that the time for revealing His sacred identity and divine power has not yet arrived. Yet, in response to His mother’s request and to address the shortage, He performs the miracle. The transformation of water into wine carries profound spiritual significance. In Jewish tradition, wine is a symbol of joy and blessing, and the “best wine” that Jesus provides points to the arrival of the Kingdom of God, where everlasting joy and divine mercy will surpass anything experienced before. This miracle signals the coming of the new covenant, marked by God’s abundant grace.

Through this first miracle at the wedding feast, we learn that Jesus is always attentive to our prayers and cares deeply about our needs, both great and small. He desires to fill our lives with His abundance, providing more than we can imagine. This miracle also invites us to trust in God’s providence, especially in everyday moments and unexpected situations. It encourages us to bring our concerns to to Him and to have faith in His ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

In our daily lives, there are times when we feel like we've "run out of wine" and struggle to find joy. We may face difficult news, unexpected setbacks, or experience moments of deep sorrow. Our relationships with others can sometimes lose their flavor, becoming as tasteless as water. In these moments, we are called to turn to God, share our concerns with Him, and trust in His help. Let us open ourselves to experiencing His mysterious and transformative power, just as Bishop Faustus of Riez beautifully shared in his sermons, “The water in the jars is not less than it was before, but now begins to be what it had not been; so too the law is not destroyed by Christ's coming, but is made better than it was. When the wine fails, new wine is served: the wine of the old covenant was good, but the wine of the new is better. The old covenant, which Jews follow, is exhausted by its letter; the new covenant, which belongs to us, has the savor of life and is filled with grace.” (Sermon 5 on the “Epiphany”).

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.