Sunday Homily with Rev. Fr. Ambrose Anene SDB: 'Do whatever He tells you'

January 19, 2025, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The first reading contains the message of hope for God’s chosen people at one of their lowest moments in their history. Jerusalem lay in ruins. The plight of the city represents the situation of the entire nation. Israel, once God’s bride, was now like a widow bereft of children. However, God has not forgotten her.

God is ever ready to call them back. We are in God ‘s book of hope. He will make sure that our hope is fulfilled.

Gospel: John 2:1-11)

In today’s gospel, we hear that there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.

The presence of mother of Jesus and the invitation of Jesus and his disciples shows that the bride or the groom could either be one of the relatives of Jesus or one of his acquaintances.

As the wedding was going on, something happened. What was that? The wine finished and there was no wine to continue the celebration. However, Mary the mother of Jesus was very observant and noticed that the whole wine had finished. She went to Jesus and said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what is that to you or to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.”

So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

It is good to reflect on a few issues here.

First, the presence of Mary and the invitation of Jesus and his disciples at the wedding. This is a significant action on the side of the couple who invited Mary and Jesus for their wedding. Supposing Mary and Jesus were not there? It would have been a calamity and a shameful event for the couple.

A lesson for us is that we should always invite Mary and Jesus in everything we do in our lives. We should not take it for granted the presence of Jesus and Mary in our lives. At the beginning of the marriage of the couple, they invited Mary and Jesus. Before you begin anything in your life, invite Jesus and Mary to be the centre.

Second, Mary is always observant. Her presence is very important in our lives and in our families. She knows whatever we are lacking and she is ready to talk to his Son Jesus on our behalf. We should never be tired of asking for her intercession in our lives. That was the reason why she went to her son and told him that they have no wine.

When you say your daily rosary, you become close to Mary and she will always love you and present all your supplications to her son Jesus.

Jesus responded to Mary, “O woman, what is that to you or to me? My hour has not come yet.” Truly, Jesus had not started his public ministry. He was just recruiting some of his disciples who would work with him. But he was practically forced to do his first miracle because of the plea of Mary his mother.
In respect and obedience to his mother, he performed the miracle.

Third, Mary told the servants, “do whatever he tells you”. You can imagine, Jesus was still complaining that it was not yet his hour but the mother went to the servants and told them to do whatever he told them. This shows the confidence Mary had in her Son Jesus. She knew that Jesus was not going to disappoint her.

So, Mary is telling us today, “do whatever he tells you”. This is regarded as the last instruction of Mary in the scripture.

It is our duty now to listen to the instructions of Jesus in our lives.

How do we do it?

Through prayers, reading of the scripture, meditation, by attending mass and listening to the homilies and listening and reading the teaching of the church.

What wine are we lacking?

Is it the wine of good health? Financial wine? Wine of a happy family? Wine of peace? Wine of holiness of life? Wine of breakthrough? Wine of blessings?Take them to Mary and Jesus. You will not be disappointed.

We pray that Almighty God may help us always to recognise the importance of Mary in our temporal and spiritual journey on this earth. We pray that Mary may always intercede for us in all our needs.

All these we ask through Christ our Lord Amen.

Have a great and blessed Sunday.