Friday, January 15 is the feast (in the Extraordinary Form) of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. This reminded me of my favorite Picture of Mary which goes by the name of Madonna del Socorro. The Gospel of the feast is John 2:1-11, the wedding feast at Cana. So I must preach on this gospel twice this week for it is the Gospel for this coming Sunday, the Second Sunday after Epiphany (in the extraordinary form.) The image of the Madonna del Socorro, painted in the late 15th Century, is at right.
And the mother of Jesus was there.
Did you ever wonder why she was mentioned before Jesus and his disciples? Maybe the evangelist wants us to pay attention to the Mother of Jesus because she has a certain significance in the Gospel and to all of us.
They have no wine,
She was not in charge, nor was she responsible. The Father of the bride hadn’t noticed; the head waiter had not noticed. Mary was the one who took the initiative and spoke to someone who could do something. It is not like she had access to Costco or the like.
Do whatever he tells you.
This is how you put the gospel into five words. In any difficulty all you need do is listen to these words. To do this shows ultimate confidence in Jesus.
Six stone water jars
Six is the number for man. Six is the number fore weakness. Six is the number for sin. YOU will never have enough. Do not pay attention to what you can do. Think of what you can do with God's help. Logically speaking, that is not going to help the situation at all. And physically speaking, that's a lot of work. Only Mary's confidence in Jesus, overflowing into their own hearts and minds, gave them the faith they needed to obey. And as a result, only the servants knew where the New Wine had come from.
And the mother of Jesus was there.
Did you ever wonder why she was mentioned before Jesus and his disciples? Maybe the evangelist wants us to pay attention to the Mother of Jesus because she has a certain significance in the Gospel and to all of us.
They have no wine,
She was not in charge, nor was she responsible. The Father of the bride hadn’t noticed; the head waiter had not noticed. Mary was the one who took the initiative and spoke to someone who could do something. It is not like she had access to Costco or the like.
Do whatever he tells you.
This is how you put the gospel into five words. In any difficulty all you need do is listen to these words. To do this shows ultimate confidence in Jesus.
Six stone water jars
Six is the number for man. Six is the number fore weakness. Six is the number for sin. YOU will never have enough. Do not pay attention to what you can do. Think of what you can do with God's help. Logically speaking, that is not going to help the situation at all. And physically speaking, that's a lot of work. Only Mary's confidence in Jesus, overflowing into their own hearts and minds, gave them the faith they needed to obey. And as a result, only the servants knew where the New Wine had come from.
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