Just a word before we go,...Second Sunday in Ordinary Time...January 19, 2025

This gospel always makes me think of a story my mother told me, of her wedding day in June of 1949.  It was on a Wednesday, which wasn’t so unusual in those days. The Mass would be at St. Michael’s, her childhood parish, and the reception was at a local catering venue. Before heading to the church, my grandfather asked my mother what beverage would be served for the wedding toast.  “Water,” my mother replied. Attentive to the fact that my grandparents did not drink nor approve of those who did, she had not ordered any alcohol. My grandfather became upset at the realization that the guests would be disappointed not to have the traditional toast, and he would be embarrassed. He immediately contacted the venue to remedy the situation, only to be told that they had no champagne. My parents’ wedding had no wine.

Mary the mother of Jesus was paying attention at the wedding in Cana and noticed that the wine was running out; the newly married couple and their families would be embarrassed by this, so she approached her son and an interesting interplay followed between mother and son. “How is that our problem?” Jesus asked. Mary does not answer him, but reflecting the compassion of God, she directs the servers to do whatever Jesus tells them. She creates a space in which God can work. We know the rest of the story, how as Isaiah prophesied, “The Lord of Hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich foods and choice wines.” Heaven and earth meet at the wedding of Cana.

My parents’ wedding venue may not have had any wine that June day in 1949, but they did have Canadian whiskey and vermouth on hand. I like to think that my parents’ wedding toast was one of the very few ever that consisted of Manhattans!  My grandfather’s pride remained intact, the guests were impressed by the gesture and my parents went on to 47 years of marriage. 

Before Christ can take the ordinary things of our lives and transform them into gifts, we have to create room for the Lord to work; we do so by paying attention to his mother’s last recorded line in Scripture, “Do whatever he tells you.” Listen, trust and act accordingly.  Christ wants to replenish your glass, for many reasons, but I suspect one of the most important ones for him is that he can’t wait to see the look on your face, as you taste, and drink, and are so pleasantly surprised by what you thought was only water.