They Have No Wine

They Have No Wine

January 21, 2013

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time 2013 C

By Rev. Joe McCloskey, SJ

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.  Isaiah 62:1

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.  To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.  1 Corinthians 12:4-7

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.”  John 2:1-3

Piety

Even as Mary told her son that wine was needed, the first miracle of Jesus has its beginning.  Our piety is shown when we go to Jesus with the needs of our world around us.  We want the inspiration of the Spirit to know what we can do.  Each of us have different gifts, but it is the same spirit that is the source of all our gifts.  The Spirit tells us who we need to go to when something is beyond our gifts to accomplish.  We are able to ask one another for help without fear because the spirit is the source of the  gifts and not us.  It is wonderful when we are able to call another to use a gift they did not know they had.  We empower one another by our confidence in them.  When we call a prophet a prophet, we get the reward  of the prophet.  When we call a holy person a holy person we share their reward.  We never have to be jealous of another ones gifts because the Spirit is the source of all of them.  Our piety helps us to recognize each others gifts. 

Study

We study each other to know what to expect of each person in our life.  There is the chance by our study to imitate the good others do.  There is no limit to what can be done in our world if we open our hearts to what God is able to do in each of us.  Discernment is the awareness of what God is asking of us.  Study open our minds and hearts to what can be hoped for in our world of so many gifts of the spirit unused.  A good leader is one who empowers others to use their gift for the sake of all.

Action

The miracle of Cana helped the disciples to believe in Christ.  We all need to see the miracle of how much more can be done when we work together to fulfill the plan of God.  God has a plan for all of us.  The wonder of the plan is that the graces of God are more than all the forces of evil that are around us.  Our plan needs to be that we work with each other to bring the kingdom of God to fruition.  There is no work of ours that does not need our prayer both before and after.  Our praying about what we do brings the Contemplative in Action grace alive in us.  What we do in prayer will last.