Marriage at Cana
The gospel present before us Jesus presence at marriage at Kana and changing water into wine. Jesus is an invited guest in this marriage feast and he came to save the newly wedded couple from the shame of not having enough wine. Mary mother of Jesus who was very much sensitive to the problem of the married couple come to request Jesus because Mary knew who Jesus is and what Jesus can do while others were not aware of Jesus identity. Mary with total faith gives the problem to Jesus and without waiting for his answer asks the people to do what Jesus tells. We can notice very important aspect in the life of Jesus. Jesus never forces himself to any situation or life of the people.
Jesus respects the freedom of the people. Often we ask if Jesus is there why these things are happening in the world, in my society, in my family and even in my personal life. But it is not the problem of Jesus it is the problem of our human freedom. Sometimes Jesus permits problems in our lives in order to realize our nothingness before him. In today’s miracle narration Jesus was present at marriage but still they had the problem of lack of wine. Why this happened? This happened in order to reveal the glory of God in and through the person of Jesus. Jesus responds to the situation and saves the people by doing a simple miracle.
Wine is a symbol of joy and happiness. Through this miracle Jesus was not propagating alcoholism as some people interpret Jesus changed water into wine so that they can have alcohol. Water here is the symbol of life in this context without real joy and happiness. Yes the presence and action of Jesus in our life makes our life joyful and happy. One of the questions we have to ask ourselves is that do we really allow Jesus to be the invisible guest in our families and gatherings? Do we invite him into our families through family prayer or a prayer before meals? Often Jesus is kept only in our private religious life and may be some liturgical services. But in many ways Jesus is not made present in our meetings and gatherings there fore there is an absence of real joy and happiness in life.
If Jesus could be made present through our prayers and faith we could change all our ordinary problems into an experience of living presence of Jesus and miracles Jesus does in our ordinary life. In this context I remember an incident from a Hindu man who was a mason who used to go in constructing the building and one day he fell from the top of a building as he was building. He had spinal cord injury. So he lay paralyzed. In the beginning his family members looked after and slowly they began to leave him alone. So some Christians took him to a retreat centre where he heard the love of Jesus and he spent their time praying and listening to the word of God.
Then he began to experience the healing power of Jesus and he promised Jesus that he would spend the rest of his life only for Jesus by sharing the word of God with others. He also said to Jesus that every one had left him and only Jesus was with him to heal him and save him. So he began to move from family to family sharing his experience of Jesus in his life and how Jesus gave the joy of living a simple and humble life. Thus people began to share with him something for his food and clothing. One day he came to a rich catholic woman’s house.
The man began to share his experience with her and she felt like giving him more money. But the men told her no need so much for me and just give me for my food today and the rest Jesus will give me later according to my need. The rich catholic woman was surprised by the deep faith of the man. Today people are so greedy and never satisfied with what they get, they want more and more. Here is a man just satisfied by the presence of Jesus and His providential care.
Satisfaction and happiness is the sign of the presence of Jesus in our lives. If there is lack of happiness and satisfaction there is Jesus missing in our lives. Wine symbolizes satisfaction and happiness. So today we can say to Jesus through Mary that we have no wine. Then Mary will turn to us and tell us do what he tells you. What will Jesus say to us? He will tell us please invite me into your personal, family and social life and then I shall change the water symbolizing your ordinary life with problems into a life of joy, satisfaction and happiness. Amen.
The gospel present before us Jesus presence at marriage at Kana and changing water into wine. Jesus is an invited guest in this marriage feast and he came to save the newly wedded couple from the shame of not having enough wine. Mary mother of Jesus who was very much sensitive to the problem of the married couple come to request Jesus because Mary knew who Jesus is and what Jesus can do while others were not aware of Jesus identity. Mary with total faith gives the problem to Jesus and without waiting for his answer asks the people to do what Jesus tells. We can notice very important aspect in the life of Jesus. Jesus never forces himself to any situation or life of the people.
Jesus respects the freedom of the people. Often we ask if Jesus is there why these things are happening in the world, in my society, in my family and even in my personal life. But it is not the problem of Jesus it is the problem of our human freedom. Sometimes Jesus permits problems in our lives in order to realize our nothingness before him. In today’s miracle narration Jesus was present at marriage but still they had the problem of lack of wine. Why this happened? This happened in order to reveal the glory of God in and through the person of Jesus. Jesus responds to the situation and saves the people by doing a simple miracle.
Wine is a symbol of joy and happiness. Through this miracle Jesus was not propagating alcoholism as some people interpret Jesus changed water into wine so that they can have alcohol. Water here is the symbol of life in this context without real joy and happiness. Yes the presence and action of Jesus in our life makes our life joyful and happy. One of the questions we have to ask ourselves is that do we really allow Jesus to be the invisible guest in our families and gatherings? Do we invite him into our families through family prayer or a prayer before meals? Often Jesus is kept only in our private religious life and may be some liturgical services. But in many ways Jesus is not made present in our meetings and gatherings there fore there is an absence of real joy and happiness in life.
If Jesus could be made present through our prayers and faith we could change all our ordinary problems into an experience of living presence of Jesus and miracles Jesus does in our ordinary life. In this context I remember an incident from a Hindu man who was a mason who used to go in constructing the building and one day he fell from the top of a building as he was building. He had spinal cord injury. So he lay paralyzed. In the beginning his family members looked after and slowly they began to leave him alone. So some Christians took him to a retreat centre where he heard the love of Jesus and he spent their time praying and listening to the word of God.
Then he began to experience the healing power of Jesus and he promised Jesus that he would spend the rest of his life only for Jesus by sharing the word of God with others. He also said to Jesus that every one had left him and only Jesus was with him to heal him and save him. So he began to move from family to family sharing his experience of Jesus in his life and how Jesus gave the joy of living a simple and humble life. Thus people began to share with him something for his food and clothing. One day he came to a rich catholic woman’s house.
The man began to share his experience with her and she felt like giving him more money. But the men told her no need so much for me and just give me for my food today and the rest Jesus will give me later according to my need. The rich catholic woman was surprised by the deep faith of the man. Today people are so greedy and never satisfied with what they get, they want more and more. Here is a man just satisfied by the presence of Jesus and His providential care.
Satisfaction and happiness is the sign of the presence of Jesus in our lives. If there is lack of happiness and satisfaction there is Jesus missing in our lives. Wine symbolizes satisfaction and happiness. So today we can say to Jesus through Mary that we have no wine. Then Mary will turn to us and tell us do what he tells you. What will Jesus say to us? He will tell us please invite me into your personal, family and social life and then I shall change the water symbolizing your ordinary life with problems into a life of joy, satisfaction and happiness. Amen.
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