Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 19, 2025

GOSPEL MEDITATION

A friend invited me to an invitation-only wine-tasting event. There were over two hundred varieties of wine. Having no idea how to approach such a massive selection, I wandered aimlessly among the tables, sipping this and that. At the end of the evening my friend asked if I had tried some of the exceptionally expensive wines. I hadn’t. “The really good stuff disappears first,” he said. “My man, you missed out on some amazing vino.” I was so disappointed. I wasted my chance for amazing once-in-a-lifetime wine. The wine I tasted was, well, blah.

Don’t we often feel a similar disappointment in life? I missed this or that opportunity. If only I had known. Optimism sputters and fades. The glory days are gone. The chances, it seems, for the really great things in life come and go so quickly. Then they are gone forever. The good stuff goes first. Then life is just blah.

Not so with the Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ miracle at the wedding at Cana, the steward of the feast says, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then…an inferior one” (John 2:10). That’s the natural downward progression of life. The good stuff disappears quickly. But he says of the groom (who symbolizes Jesus), “But you have kept the good wine until now.” This is the ever-improving trajectory of the realm of God’s grace. With Jesus, the “good wine” of divine love, hope and peace gets better as our journey of faith progresses. Where are your greatest disappointments? Don’t give in to the lie that the really good stuff is gone. Tell Jesus you’ve run out. Then learn how to taste that amazingly good wine, because he saves the best until now.

–Father John Muir

 

A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE

At Cana we get a good insight into Mary’s parenting style. She did not plead, argue, demand or manipulate. She merely pointed out the situation and trusted her son would make the best decision.

– Bud Ozar

 

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP

Today’s readings remind us of the amazing privilege we have, and the serious responsibility it is, to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us. Everything we have is intended to benefit those around us. Because God has made each one of us with unique and differing gifts, the parish family truly does need each of us. It’s a wonderful – and at the same time sobering – reality. Our parish family will be vibrant only when all members, young and old, share their gifts with the community.
It will suffer if even one member holds back.

Let us take care to listen to our Blessed Mother, as the servants did in our Gospel reading today. The Blessed Mother said, “Do whatever He tells you.” Let us examine our lives this week to see if we are doing whatever He tells us and cooperating with God to make the best use of the gifts He has given us for the benefit of those around us. If we all take this call seriously, He will perform miracles in our families and our parish.

2024 Catholic Stewardship Consultants

 

PRACTICING CATHOLIC – RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

Waiting is not always so easy. If you lack patience, like me, you probably want whatever is going to happen to just happen already. I remember waiting for the births of my children. There was the time I sat with my dying father in the hospital. One year, we waited to see if our oldest child got into the college of his choice, or any college at all, which seemed quite nerve-wracking.

So, to make the time pass more easily, and because it is prudent and wise, we make preparations. We put together nurseries, go over last wills and testaments, and look through endless college mailings. Then, when the event finally happens or our fate is unveiled, the preparation ends. Either you have prepared well for that moment, or you realize your actions didn’t prepare you at all.

Advent comes every year. So, unlike events in our lives that only happen once, we have been through Advent many times before. Even though this is the case, when Christmas arrives many of us will think we missed it again, and next year will be the year we get into Advent. Of course, not to sound morbid, but there is no promise of next year. What if you knew this was your last Advent ever?

I read a book some years ago about how to live your life as if you only had one year to live. The author said that doing this provides an incentive for a real commitment to living life to its fullest. You notice things for the first time. You make those plans that you always put off. You tell people what you always wanted to say. I hope all who read this have many wonderful years ahead of them. However, let’s approach this Advent like it is our last. I bet Christmas will seem that much sweeter. And who knows, we may find a new and improved way to live all year long.

– Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS