As we settle back in for the Ordinary Time in our liturgical calendar, our Gospel passage takes us to that familiar scene of Jesus turning water into wine at the Wedding Feast at Cana. Jesus’ presence at that wedding feast speaks a lot of volumes. First, it shows God’s own approval for marriage as well as family. Second, it shows that whenever we invite Jesus, He never turns down our invitation. Third, it shows that Jesus cares about our happiness and welfare, meaning, we should always pray with confidence and great expectation. Whatever we ask from God, we should believe that we have received it already so long as what we are asking is in line with His will.

The transformation of the water into wine is the first of the many miracles that Jesus did in order to make known the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah. What is, nonetheless, significant in this particular miracle is Mary who is considered as the first and perfect disciple. She earns this special title as she willingly and generously acceded to the invitation of God to become the mother of our Savior even amidst the many unexplained events that were about to happen in her life. It was indeed indicative of her total faith and trust in God who is faithful.

Here we see the pivotal role that Mary assumes in that she becomes a very vital link to our Lord. Their love for one another is so deep that either would have difficulty to simply brush off any requests from each other. Mary, then, is someone we can totally rely on as she intercedes for us to Jesus. She becomes a powerful intermediary in letting her Son know our various requests and our messages of gratitude. We then pray for a deeper appreciation of Mary, who like us, is human but gives us a perfect example of being a true and authentic disciple of Jesus: she will vouch for us, she is for us.

Jesus, being God, knew beforehand that the couple had run out of wine, yet it took Mary’s insistence for Him to work the miracle. What does this tell us about prayer? God knows everything about us. He knows what we lack and what we need. Yet He insists that we should ask, seek and knock. The process of asking is not a means of commanding God or informing Him of things He is not aware of. Instead, prayer is for our own good. That process of asking helps to put our pride to check, thereby making us realize that God alone deserves credit for everything that happens to us, and that it conforms our wills to His.

Prayer is not a question of commanding, it is all about pleading. And when we pray, we must obey the voice of the One to whom we are praying. Like the Gospel tonight, after pleading with Jesus, Mary said: “Do whatever He tells you.”

Sono semipro grate,
Father Erick

(For 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2022)