1ST JOHN 5: 14 – 21

Beloved: This is the confidence which we have in the Son of God, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. If any one sees his brother committing what is not a deadly sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not deadly. There is sin which is deadly; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not deadly. We know that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the Evil One does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the Evil One. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 149: 1b – 2, 3 – 4, 5 – 6a, 9b (R.) 4a

R/. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
Alleluia.

Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;
let Sion’s children exult in their king. R/.

Let them praise his name with dancing,
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the poor with salvation. R/.

Let the faithful exult in glory,
and rejoice as they take their rest.
Let the praise of God be in their mouths.
This is an honour for all his faithful. R/.

ALLELUIA
Luke 7: 16

Alleluia. Alleluia.
A great prophet has risen among us, and God has visited his people.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee.”
JOHN 2: 1 – 11

At that time: There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what is that to you or to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.
GOSPEL REFLECTION: A Command of Love
Saturday, January 7, 2023

His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)

This short phrase, inserted within the story of the Wedding Feast of Cana, gives us much to ponder. It is a command of love, spoken by our Blessed Mother to the servants at the wedding. And though her words were initially spoken to those servants so as to bring forth the first miracle and sign of Jesus’ divinity, we can be certain that our Blessed Mother also speaks them to each one of us.

“Do whatever he tells you.” What a beautiful command of love! When we hear these words spoken to us, we must hear them as our Blessed Mother’s perfect and ongoing guidance. So often in life we do what we want to do. We are drawn here or there by our passions and disordered desires. We struggle with being selfish and often make poor choices for our lives. This is the simple reality of sin that we struggle with every day. But if we can heed the Blessed Mother’s words, hearing them as words spoken from her heart to ours, then we will have a new direction in life.

Doing the will of God first requires that we listen to the voice of God. We must listen to our Lord speak to us. How well do you do this? Our minds are often flooded with many thoughts, and we are easily influenced by many things. Not only do our disordered passions, feelings and emotions confuse us at times, but there are so many varied and confusing voices within our world itself. We are influenced by those we encounter every day for good or ill, by the mass media, by the things we read or watch, and even by the evil one himself as he tempts us day in and day out.

If we can daily strive to eliminate the many misleading voices within our lives and tune in to the simple, clear and profound voice of God, then we have taken a good first step. But from there, we need to “do” that which God asks of us. Hearing God speak can be difficult, but doing what we hear from God can be even more difficult. It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Good intentions are not enough. Doing God’s will with all our might is the answer.

Reflect, today, upon this twofold question. First, am I able to hear what God asks of me each and every day, or am I misled and influenced by many other voices? Second, how well do I put into action that which I know God asks of me? “Do whatever he tells you.” Ponder this phrase and hear it as a true command of love from our Blessed Mother.

PRAYER:
Dearest Mother, please speak these words to me every day. As you do, please pray for me that I may listen to all that your Son asks of me and obey His voice with my whole heart. Thank you for your perfect “Yes” and your obedience to God in all things. May I learn to more fully imitate you every day. Mother Mary, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.