Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, January 14, 2007

Isiah 62: 1-5

1 Corinthians 12: 4-11

John 2: 1-11

For the good of all.

In the Gospel of John, the scene of Cana inaugurates the series of signs by which Jesus, the one who reveals the Father, will make himself known. The mother of Jesus is there. She speaks only twice : She presents her son with the situation of the guests: They have no wine. A simple affirmation with no request attached, as if Mary could not doubt that he would intervene in their favor. If Jesus' answer puts her off, she again expresses her trust in her words to the servants: Do whatever he tells you. She invites them to enter into her attitude. She renews the obedience that was that of the people at the moment of making the Covenant at Sinai when they said to Moses: All that the Lord has said, we will do. (Exodus 19: 8)

Sure of her Sons commitment to the people, Mary presents herself like the one who intercedes for the people and also invites the people to trust. Likewise in the book of Isaiah, the speaker affirms that she will not keep silence nor rest until the Lord comes to save Zion. She will not let God rest until He accomplishes his promise to Jerusalem. The voice proclaims that Zion will receive a new name that will denote the change that will come. In this way, the voice keeps up the hope of the people.

Saint Paul tells us about the gifts of the Spirit that should be put at the service of others. And, what if today we are invited to be like watchmen, standing in the breach to see the needs of others, to intercede for them, untiring in our commitment on their behalf, without giving God any rest ? And what if we were called to uphold the hope of others, even in the face of problems that seem insoluble to us?

- Sr. Sophie Ramond, RA