2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time    

Gospel – John 2:1-11

The Miracle-Worker

Wedding Chapel, Cana

 

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of the experience, planning a wedding is not something for the faint-hearted.  There is the wedding invitation, the guest list, the bridal party, the rehearsal and dinner, not to mention the ceremony itself, the menu, the seating, etc.  So much planning, details and coordination!  Need I say more?

I learned early on when we were preparing for our daughter Jaime’s wedding that I had very specific jobs and responsibilities.  They amounted to: Smile, saying “yes, dear” (numerous times) and signing the checks.  Ginger was a marvel at the details.  I remember being given a minute-by-minute schedule for each day of what I was supposed to do, where to be and the time frame to get the job done!  And even if something should have gone wrong (which it didn’t), there was a contingency plan in place to make sure that no one really noticed.  The point was to make the day joyful and memorable for Jaime and Josh and to not let anything distract from it being “their day.”

Which brings us to today’s Gospel – the Wedding Feast at Cana, Jesus’ first recorded miracle!  Weddings at the time of Jesus could conceivably last five to seven days with a variety of celebrations, feasts and ceremonies.  Imagine the logistical nightmare!  It was not only a family event but a community gathering.  And the family’s position and reputation were on the line.  God forbid that anything go wrong and reflect back on the family!  And yet, that is exactly what has happened!  They have run out of wine!  Imagine the shame and embarrassment for the parents if the guests should find out! 

Mary quietly informs Jesus of the situation and then the miracle occurs quietly and without any fanfare.  Only a select few ever knew that there was a problem.  This changing of water into wine happens behind the scenes!  There is no crowd to witness the event!  There is no outpouring of awe and amazement!  Nothing like curing a leper or raising Lazarus from the dead!  Jesus quietly and rather anonymously transforms water into wine!  Disaster averted and the wedding feast continues!

Ginger and I have visited the Holy Land several times over the past few years.  Two moments (out of oh so many) remain embedded in our minds and hearts.  One is renewing our Marriage vows in the Wedding Chapel at Cana, the opportunity to recommit our love and devotion to each other.  The second moment is a bit more mundane!  After the chapel, we ventured outside to one of the souvenir shops.  Among the various objects for sale were bottles of “Cana wine.”  Luckily for us, the owner provided free samples of the wine.  It was awful; I think we got a batch of the original wine from 2000 years ago!  Needless to say, we passed on the wine.  In a sense, this was a good reminder that even something so minor as wine could easily spoil a special occasion.

This is Jesus’ first miracle and yet the focus is NOT on Jesus!  In fact, the actual miracle escapes the notice of the wedding party.  It is an act of compassion and love!  How often have we been the recipient of just such a gesture.  A special gift out of nowhere!  A bag of groceries left on our doorstep!  That person in front of us at the coffee house who paid for our drink and quietly walked away!  Simple and selfless acts of kindness and yet so welcome and heart-warming, so compassionate and thoughtful!  A gentle reminder for us to be grateful for all those quiet gestures of love given with humility and concern.  And a reminder to us that we are all called to acts of compassion and love, not to call attention to ourselves but to care for those in need.  There is a bit of a miracle-worker in each of us!

Tuesday morning last week we woke to the sad news of the sudden and untimely passing of Fr Steve.  Words fail us at this time of such deep pain and loss.  For over 7 years, Fr. Steve was our friend, our spirit guide and mentor, our confessor and our friend.   He was our shepherd through the isolation of Covid and in moments of joy like First Communion and St Kateri Feast Days. In the truest sense of the word, he was the best example of what a pastor should be! 

He was kind and compassionate, humble and gentle, always there to listen to our cares and concerns and to offer solace and healing.  His sense of humor and smile filled us with warmth and his preaching gave us hope and a firm belief that the Creator was right there with us, supporting us and loving us. 

His generous use of water at Baptisms and blessings was legendary.  And it spoke to us of his childlike sense of play and joy, especially when he ministered to the youth of our St. Kateri family.

Our hearts are broken and our spirits falter at a time like this.  But let us take comfort in Fr. Steve's life of service and dedication to his flock.  What better example could we have of how to walk the Red Road!

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.