Gospel: John 2: 1-12
Ignatius of Loyola has a method of lectio or holy reading in which we are to imagine ourselves as being in the scene of the Gospel as one of the bystanders or characters in the story. We are to take note of all that we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel as the story progresses. In the story of the miracle at Cana it is easy to imagine oneself as the headwaiter, Mary, or one of the guests and see the story from one of those perspectives. But today we are going to imagine ourselves as the six stone water jars.
Consider how humbly this miracle is performed. Only three people are aware of the problem and solution. Everyone else is unaware a miracle has taken place, though they are beneficiaries of the miracle. The stone water jars were empty; they are the stone water jars used for ritual purification for those who are guests at someone's house. We have been purified by the waters of baptismal repentance, emptied of our sins.
But we cannot remain empty. We are now to be filled with the wine of mercy - the waters of repentance are transformed into the waters of mercy. We are now to provide mercy to others, providing for their needs, even if they are unaware and unconscious of their need or the source of the solution to their need. We are as humble as the miracle itself, pouring ourselves out for the sake of others, just as the Lord Jesus had done in his life, death, and resurrection.
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