2nd Sunday of the Year (C)

Inspire in Us the Practice of Good (2011-2013):

Sunday Reflections for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

2nd Sunday of the Year (C), January 20, 2013

Liturgical readings


Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-12

"Jesus performed this first of His signs at Cana."


Sunday's gospel story in John reveals to us the humanity and divinity of Jesus. In this first of His signs at Cana, His divinity shone bright among those who knew of it. No one knew of this sign save for Mary His mother, His disciples, and those waiting on table during the wedding feast. Even the waiter in charge of the wedding feast did not know it was the Lord who had changed the water into wine. But the waiter in charge noticed a remarkable change in the quality of the wine that was served. He said to the groom: "People usually serve the choice wine first...what you have done is keep the choice wine until now."


Wine gives joy to every occasion. It is served not only during wedding feasts but also during other important celebrations. The Eucharist is also an important celebration. And in that celebration, wine (along with the bread), are offered by the people to the Lord through the person of the priest-presider. It is this bread and wine that becomes the Body and Blood of the Redeemer during the consecration. If we consider the wine at Cana and the wine consecrated in the Eucharist, we notice that both are miracles and life-giving actions performed by the Lord. The choice wine at Cana is of very good quality; and the bread and wine in the Eucharist is the highest good Catholics can receive in their life of faith.


The Lord has given us a memorial of His life in the Eucharist. Upon His Ascension, He promised that He will always be with us until the end of time. In John 16:22, He says: "you are sad for a time, but I shall see you again; then your hearts will rejoice with a joy no one can take from you." It is only with the gift of faith in the Eucharist that we can see this promise revealing itself daily in our lives. The more we live in the Spirit of Jesus, the more we cherish this Truth in our minds and our hearts. It is a Truth that heals our souls from the darkness of sin, and saves us from the meaningless reality of death in the world. Jesus is the Truth that is life-giving.

Points for reflection and prayer: Note this verse from Psalm 96: "Announce his salvation, day after day." And from 1 Corinthians in the second reading: "Through the Spirit one receives faith".