| |
|
|
Spiritual Reflection
| |
January 16, 2010 | | | |  | Spiritual Reflection for Second Sunday in
Ordinary Time
January 17, 2010
In the episode of the wedding at Cana, St. John presents Mary's first intervention in the public life of Jesus and highlights her cooperation in her son's mission. The meaning and role of the Blessed Virgin's presence become evident when the wine runs out.
Mary immediately notices and intervenes. Turning to Jesus with the words: “They have no wine” (John 2:3), Mary expresses her concern to him about this situation, expecting him to solve it.
Jesus' answer, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4), appears to express a refusal, as if putting his Mother's faith to the test. Mary docilely refrains from insisting with him and instead turns to the servants, telling them to obey him.
Her trust in her Son is rewarded. Jesus, whom she has left totally free to act, works the miracle, recognizing his Mother's courage and docility: “Jesus said to them, 'Fill the jars with water.' And they filled them up to the brim” (John 2:7). Thus their obedience also helps to procure wine in abundance.
Mary's request, “Do whatever he tells you,”...is an exhortation to trust without hesitation, especially when one does not understand the meaning or benefit of what Christ asks. Jesus' apparent refusal exalts Mary's faith, so that her Son's words, “My hour has not yet come,” together with the working of the first miracle, demonstrate the Mother's great faith and the power of her prayer.
“Mary, we honor you today for your great faith, your surrender to your son, and your humble obedience to the Father. Pray for us, Mary, that our faith will have the same character!”
(Excerpt from: the WORD among us) | | | | | |
|
|
|
 Our Lady of Lourdes - In 1858, in a grotto, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto. When Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady. |
|
