SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
​January 19, 2025

Brothers and Sisters,
​
Last week’s Gospel told of Jesus’ baptism, when the Father revealed to all those present that Jesus was the Son of God. Today’s Gospel tells of Jesus’ first miracle, changing the water to wine at a wedding banquet. John calls his miracles signs, for they reveal Jesus’ divinity to everyone who witnesses the event. Here, John immediately points out that his disciples respond with faith. As this was Jesus’ first sign, this is when they begin to believe. Only God has power to change water into wine. Not only wine but the best wine. That is what Jesus does to us. He works with what we have even when it is insufficient and broken.

We celebrated Epiphany two Sundays ago, but each of the Gospels since then has also featured epiphanies. An epiphany is a sudden manifestation or revelation of something that had been unknown. Yes, one occurred when the magi found the newborn king in a humble manger. But another occurred at Jesus’ baptism, which we heard last week, when the Father’s voice was heard saying, “You are my beloved Son”. And today we hear the first of his miracles, which opened the eyes of his disciples to his power and glory. As we begin the year, we recall how Jesus was revealed again and again as the Son of God.

With our eyes open we can see what God is revealing. In the Manger where animals are fed, we find a baby Jesus not as food for animals but for the shepherded and Magi. During baptism Jesus transform us through Holy Spirit and Fire to be God’s children. The sign of turning water into wine, we see the power of God at work of transforming one element to another. Jesus revealed himself from the very incarnation as food. He also revealed himself before ascending to heaven as food in form of bread and wine. He transforms the element of bread and wine to become his body and blood. The same Jesu lying on the manger is the same Jesus we receive in the form of bread and wine. It is a huge blessing we are invited to receive him every time we attend mass.

Please keep all our teens celebrating confirmation retreat this weekend. We pray that the Lord will continue to reveal himself to each one of them. We are very grateful to Sr. Jane, Sr. Stephanie, all catechists and teachers preparing them. Please keep our parish in your prayers as we take the journey of evangelization. We pray that the Lord will continue to reveal himself to each one of our faithful and guide us in our transition period.

Blessings,
Fr. Sam
Pastor