Do Whatever He Tells You - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Today we begin the season of Ordinary Time, a Sunday in which we can find a theme for the entire liturgical year and the entire Christian life. In the Gospel we find such an overarching theme, spoken by the mother of Jesus: "Do whatever he tells you."

The first reading from Isaiah was written after the Israelites had returned from the Babylonian captivity. The hopes and expectations that they had in earlier prophetic works regarding their return were soon dashed at the daunting tasks that awaited them in Israel. The reality of return and rebuilding did not meet the expectations they had imagined. The prophet then provides the people with the true purpose of their expectations: in the Messianic age to come. The Messianic age was pictured as a wedding feast, the image of love when a bride comes together with her groom in complete love and joy. In that time, the relationship between God and his people will be transformed from one of servitude to one of spousal love.

The Gospel text provides us with the fulfillment of that Messianic expectation. John situates the beginning of Jesus' public ministry at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. The region of Galilee suffered the most under Roman occupation, and thus the poverty and hardship of the people here was more severe. Thus, when the wine runs out at the wedding feast few people are surprised. However, what is surprising is the resolution to the problem. Mary points out the problem to Jesus without asking for anything, then advises everyone to do whatever he tells you. At first, Jesus is reluctant to intervene, since it was not his hour, i.e. the time for his death and resurrection which is the full realization of the Messianic expectation.

Yet, in a sense, this time was his hour, for the entire life and ministry of Jesus was a redemptive act. In fact, Pope John Paul II saw in this story a redemptive act in minature. "At Cana in Galilee there is shown only one aspect of human need, apparently a tiny one of little importance: 'They have no wine'. But it has symbolic value: this coming to the aid of human needs means, at the same time, bringing those needs within the radius of Christ's Messianic mission and salvific power. Thus, there is a mediation. Mary places herself between her Son and mankind in the reality of their wants, needs, and sufferings. In her position as mother, she puts herself 'in the middle', that is to say, she acts as a mediatrix, not as an outsider. She knows that in this way she can point out to her Son the needs of mankind, and in fact, she has the right to do so" (Redemptoris Mater, #20).

In our ministry as Christians, it is our obligation to care for the needs of mankind, no matter how small, and to bring them into the radius of Jesus' ministry and power. We have the right and obligation as baptized faithful to mediate these situations with genuine human concern and at the same time a profound spiritual outlook that transforms the ordinary into an encounter with the living God. Indeed, the Church today reminds us of that mission by providing us with the responsorial Psalm that bids us to "proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations". What is more, the second reading from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians provides us with all the various gifts God provides to us through the Holy Spirit, gifts we are obliged to use on behalf of others. These readings remind us that liturgy and sacramental life are not ends in themselves, but rather they are first means to an end so that we may minister to the world as Christ did, and secondly they point us to the invisible reality they signify, the heavenly Jerusalem and fullness of life with God.

May we go forth inspired by the readings, all they command, and with the opening prayer from the Mass in our hearts: Almighty and ever present Father, your watchful care reaches from end to end and orders all things in such power that even the tensions and tragedies of sin cannot frustrate your loving plans. Help us to embrace your will, give us the strength to follow your call, so that your truth may live in our hearts and reflect peace to those who believe in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.