The first amongst the signs

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C 

Collect 

Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Is 62:1-5

The bridegroom rejoices in his bride.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

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.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
   and all the kings your glory;
 you shall be called by a new name
   pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
   a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken,”
   or your land “Desolate,”
but you shall be called “My Delight,”
   and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
   and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
   your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
   so shall your God rejoice in you.

The word of the Lord.

Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

R. :

℟. (3) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
   sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD;
   bless his name.

℟. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
   among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

℟. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
   give to the LORD glory and praise;
   give to the LORD the glory due his name!

℟. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Worship the LORD in holy attire.
   Tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations: The LORD is king.
   He governs the peoples with equity.

℟. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

1 Cor 12:4-11

One and the same Spirit distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters:
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.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
   to another, the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
   to another, faith by the same Spirit;
   to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
   to another, mighty deeds; to another, prophecy;
   to another, discernment of spirits;
   to another, varieties of tongues;
   to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
   distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel

Cf Thes 2:14

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jn 2:1-11

Jesus did this at the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

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.”
And Jesus said to her,
   “Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
   “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
   each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
   “Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
   “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
   without knowing where it came from
   —although the servers who had drawn the water knew—,
   the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
   “Everyone serves good wine first,
   and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
   but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
   and so revealed his glory,
   and his disciples began to believe in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Reflection

Although we have just begun Ordinary Time, on this Second Sunday the theme remains the Epiphany—God who reveals himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus had already begun to call his disciples to follow him. They left everything when they heard John the Baptist say that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 

Jesus was invited to the wedding, and so was His Mother Mary. John the Evangelist gives great importance to Jesus’ hour. Jesus was aware that, when he was baptised in the River Jordan, the Father had spoken to Him and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit to begin His mission as Messiah. But He was awaiting what He Himself called His hour. He was aware that this hour meant He was to die, by sacrificing His life (the sacrificial Lamb) for the salvation and liberation of the human race.  

It was as though He was waiting for a special sign. 

His Mother revealed to Him that the moment had come. When He performed His first miracle, the first sign that He is the Messiah of God, it marked the moment when God’s plan for Him began to quickly unfold. And through this, His disciples also believed in Him. He revealed who He is: the Messiah of God—the Son of God sent to raise human dignity to that of the children of God. 

Prayer 

Father, how much you loved us! We pray through the power of the name of Jesus to change the water of our lives to that of your wine. Help us to recognise in Jesus our only Lord, who gives us supernatural life and reveals to us the way that leads us to you. 

Lord Jesus, we affirm our belief in you and that we want to be your disciples. Thank you, Lord. 

 

Ara l-Qari tal-Ħdud li għaddew