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Homily - Archdiocese of Los Angeles

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<strong>Homily</strong> – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) i<br />

Most Reverend José H. Gomez<br />

Archbishop <strong>of</strong> <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong><br />

Cathedral <strong>of</strong> Our Lady <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Angeles</strong><br />

January 20, 2013<br />

My brothers and sisters in Christ,<br />

In our Gospel reading today, we are presented with the beautiful scene <strong>of</strong> the wedding<br />

feast <strong>of</strong> Cana. It is a beautiful scene from the first days <strong>of</strong> Jesus’ public ministry that<br />

we know very well. It is still the beginning <strong>of</strong> his public life and, as you recall, last<br />

week in our Gospel reading, we heard how Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River.<br />

And I think it is very interesting that the first public event that Jesus attends after his<br />

Baptism is a wedding. First <strong>of</strong> all, it helps us to reflect on the institution <strong>of</strong> marriage.<br />

Jesus elevated the civil ceremony <strong>of</strong> marriage to the level <strong>of</strong> a Sacrament by his<br />

presence there. It is also interesting because it talks to us about how marriage is a part <strong>of</strong><br />

God’s plan for our world and for our society.<br />

When we are reading the sacred Scriptures, we always have to remember that the<br />

history <strong>of</strong> salvation is a “family story.” It is the story <strong>of</strong> God creating — from out <strong>of</strong> all<br />

the peoples <strong>of</strong> the earth — one single family. The family <strong>of</strong> God. His Catholic Church.<br />

So that’s why we heard in our first reading this morning, the beautiful passage from the<br />

prophet Isaiah.<br />

The prophet tells us that when the Messiah comes he will show us that God loves his<br />

people like a bridegroom loves his bride.<br />

For the Lord delights in you …<br />

as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride.<br />

That’s also why Jesus begins his public ministry attending a wedding. This wedding is a<br />

sign that Jesus is the Messiah that God promised to send to his people.<br />

As we all know, every wedding is the beginning <strong>of</strong> a family. Husband and wife become<br />

mother and father. So this wedding at Cana is the beginning <strong>of</strong> the Church. The<br />

beginning <strong>of</strong> the family <strong>of</strong> God.<br />

And isn’t it interesting that the Mother <strong>of</strong> Jesus is also there, the Blessed Virgin Mary?<br />

Because Mary is not only the Mother <strong>of</strong> Jesus. She is indeed, the Mother <strong>of</strong> Jesus. She<br />

is also the mother <strong>of</strong> all the children <strong>of</strong> God. She is our mother. And in the family <strong>of</strong>


Page 2 <strong>of</strong> 3<br />

God, in the Church — Mary is always there to help her children. To helps each one <strong>of</strong><br />

us.<br />

If you think for just a moment what Mary, the Mother <strong>of</strong> God and our Mother did at that<br />

wedding feast <strong>of</strong> Cana, we will understand a little better how important it is for each<br />

one <strong>of</strong> us to have a devotion to Mary our Blessed Mother.<br />

We know what happened. She realizes they have no wine and she comes to Jesus to ask<br />

his help. He kind <strong>of</strong> said, “What are you talking about? It’s not my business. It’s not my<br />

hour yet.”<br />

This is a beautiful dialogue <strong>of</strong> love between our Blessed Mother and her Son Jesus. And<br />

even if he was not too interested in listening to her, we know how mothers are. They<br />

know better. So she really did not listen to him too much. So she just tells the servants.<br />

Do whatever he tells you.<br />

My brothers and sisters, those are beautiful words. And these are the last words that<br />

Mary speaks in sacred Scripture. And they are a beautiful and important lesson to each<br />

on <strong>of</strong> us: Do whatever he tells you.<br />

In the same way that our mothers teach us how to walk, our heavenly Mother Mary is<br />

teaching us how to walk in the footsteps <strong>of</strong> Jesus. How live as children <strong>of</strong> God.<br />

Do whatever he tells you.<br />

This is how we are supposed to live as children <strong>of</strong> God. We always have to be thinking<br />

about Jesus, reflecting on the images <strong>of</strong> Jesus that we find in the Gospel. We have to<br />

listen to his words and follow his example.<br />

Jesus is always our older Brother, showing us the way to live and the path to follow. He<br />

is the One who shows us how to be pleasing to God our Father. So Mary our Blessed<br />

Mother, who is our mother, she is giving us, as all mothers do, some good advice:<br />

Do whatever he tells you.<br />

I’m sure you noticed what happens next in our passage <strong>of</strong> the Gospel. The servants<br />

listen to Mary and they do what Jesus tells them to do. They fill those huge containers<br />

up to the top with water. And then it becomes the best <strong>of</strong> wines.<br />

My brothers and sisters, if we live by faith in Jesus, if we listen to him and follow his<br />

example, he will transform the “water” <strong>of</strong> our ordinary lives — all our daily works and<br />

struggles — into the best <strong>of</strong> “wines.” If we strive to always do our best for Jesus, he will<br />

do the rest.


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This is what St. Paul is also talking about in the second reading <strong>of</strong> today’s Mass. God<br />

gives each <strong>of</strong> us a portion <strong>of</strong> his Holy Spirit. He gives each <strong>of</strong> us the spiritual gifts to<br />

serve one another.<br />

So if we do what he tells us — if we use these gifts to carry out our daily duties with a<br />

spirit <strong>of</strong> love for God and love for our neighbor — then God will work “miracles” in<br />

our lives every day. The simplicity <strong>of</strong> our daily life will become a beautiful vehicle in<br />

the eyes <strong>of</strong> God and in our service to one another.<br />

You see, we are the family <strong>of</strong> God. Mary is always there to help us in our needs. Jesus<br />

is bringing us his example and the words we need to follow to have a wonderful life.<br />

So let’s pray today for the grace we need to practice our faith in our daily life, and<br />

especially in moments <strong>of</strong> trial and need. Let’s ask, in this Year <strong>of</strong> Faith, as the apostles<br />

did, let’s ask Jesus to increase our faith: Lord, Increase my faith! ii<br />

Let’s also try in this Year <strong>of</strong> Faith to turn to Mary more and more. To really believe in<br />

Jesus and believe in Mary! In heaven, Mary our Blessed Mother is still watching out for<br />

her children. She still intercedes for each one <strong>of</strong> us. She is still telling Jesus all the time,<br />

They have no wine. And Jesus, my brothers and sisters, has no choice but to help us and<br />

give us the grace we need to have a wonderful life.<br />

So let us turn to our Heavenly Mother right now. Let us ask her to help us obtain the<br />

grace we need to really do whatever her Son Jesus tells us to do. Especially pray to her<br />

to intercede for our country, as we start a new time with the inauguration <strong>of</strong> the<br />

President. Let us also ask for the grace <strong>of</strong> peace and justice in our world. When we see<br />

so much violence all over the world, Mary the Queen <strong>of</strong> Peace will intercede that there<br />

will be peace in our hearts, in our families, in our country.<br />

Let us also ask her for the institution <strong>of</strong> marriage in our society and in the Church. That<br />

all the trials and difficulties <strong>of</strong> any marriage will be assisted by the help <strong>of</strong> the grace <strong>of</strong><br />

God, and that we will have happy marriages in our society.<br />

Let us ask her for her intercession that Jesus may turn the “water” <strong>of</strong> our every day life<br />

into fine “wine” for his Kingdom.<br />

i Readings: Isa. 62:1–5; Ps. 96:1–3, 7–10; 1 Cor. 12:4–11; John 2:1–11.<br />

ii Luke 17:5.

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