Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 7, 2023
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
(although the servers who had drawn the water knew),
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.
Mary particularly strikes me in this passage. Mary is the one who notices the couple is out of wine. I wonder what the newly married couple’s friendship was like with her. I wonder if they went to her with their concerns when they were running out or if she realized this on her own.
I imagine running out of wine at a wedding in Jesus’ time might be similar to running out of dinners for half of the wedding guests at a reception in 2023. And although Jewish weddings in Jesus’ time are immensely different from our wedding culture today, I can only imagine what would have happened if the couple had run out of wine—how much embarrassment that would have meant for them and their families.
I can imagine the gossip, frustration, and disbelief that would rise from the reception, just as it would today. Jesus shows incredible kindness and mercy to this couple. What a joyful place for Jesus’ first miracle.
This could be any of our stories, couldn’t it? How often have we seen Jesus’ kindness and goodness in our lives? How he loves us! Are our eyes open to his goodness? Are our hearts open to his love?
How many times has Mary come to our aid? Our watchful, wonderful mother. Our kind and loving intercessor. Who knows our needs and concerns like a mother and who asks her Son for what we need. Mary, our good and loving Mother, prays for us.
And in the meantime, as we joyfully wait for the bridegroom’s feast to come in our own lives, remember Mary’s words: “do whatever he tells you.”
Prayer
Almighty God, may we, like the servers in Cana, have the trust to follow the words of the Blessed Mother: “Do whatever he tells you.” When things do not go as planned or when we are disappointed and frustrated by the world around us, you are still capable of showing us your love. May we always turn to you in prayer, trusting in your providence and love, even in our moments of doubt and discouragement. Grant this, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Raymond of Penafort is patron saint of lawyers. He led and expanded the Dominican order just after the death of its founder, but made his mark on the world through his relentless teaching and preaching.
Raymond was born 1175 in Spain of royal lineage, and was a brilliant student—he began teaching philosophy at 20 years of age. He taught pro bono, and earned a good reputation as a teacher. At age 30 he went on to earn his doctorate in civil and canon law. He was ordained a deacon and assisted the bishop of Barcelona, and was a great model to clergy with his zeal, prayerfulness, and concern for the poor.
He was nearly 50 years old when he gave up a position of great status to join the Dominican order in Barcelona—St. Dominic himself had just died eight months prior. Most of the other novices were much younger than he, but Raymond led them in obedience and humility.
The Dominicans used his learning well—he was tasked with writing a guide to help moral theologians and priests hearing confessions, the first of its kind. Raymond’s real passion was caring for people’s souls, however. He preached, taught, and heard confessions constantly, and showed people how to conquer sin in themselves. In a time of political turmoil, he effected a grassroots change in Spain with his pastoral care and catechesis.
In 1230, the pope called Raymond to Rome to help with various administrative duties. He also asked Raymond to serve as his confessor. One of Raymond’s tasks was to gather all of the scattered writings and decrees of the Church. His compilation was so well organized that it was frequently cited, even until 1917, when canon law was revised.
The pope named Raymond archbishop of a capital in Spain, but he was consumed with anxiety and fell ill, and so was excused. Raymond traveled back home to recover his health. As he got stronger, he resumed preaching and hearing confessions.
In 1238, he was elected superior of the Dominican order, and went about organizing and codifying the regulations of the community, which served the Dominicans for generations after. Under his direction, Dominican life honed its focus on solitude, studies, and pastoral ministry. In all of this, he remained humble and prayerful—he would even make his rounds visiting Dominican communities throughout Spain traveling by foot.
After two years, he resigned from this post and began to engage and counter Islamic forces in Spain. He encouraged St. Thomas Aquinas to produce arguments for the faith for unbelievers, and encouraged the study of Arabic and Hebrew in Dominican schools.
When he fell ill in his 100th year, two kings visited him to receive a final blessing, and several royal families attended the funeral. His tomb became known for miracles, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
The engraving of books and a gavel and cross above stand as symbols of St. Raymond of Penafort on the exterior of the Eck Hall of Law. He is patron saint of lawyers and those who work with medical records.
St. Raymond of Penafort, you changed the world with your learning and the Church with your holiness, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Raymond of Penafort is in the public domain. Last accessed November 14, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.
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