This week
I do like this Gospel of the Wedding Feast at Cana, it shows both Jesus’ humanity and his divinity. Jesus is at a Wedding Feast with his Mother and his disciples and they were no doubt enjoying themselves at one of the great events of Jewish life where the celebrations could last for several days. However, something is wrong and Mary notices, ‘They have no wine’. It gives us a beautiful picture of Mary as observant, kindly, caring and thoughtful, for the wedding celebrations would end abruptly in embarrassment and hurt if they ran out of wine.
Jesus doesn’t seem ready to intervene, but Mary knows what he can do and gives us all an instruction to take to heart, ‘Do whatever Jesus tells you’. Jesus, in typical fashion, for there were no half measures with him, produced between 420 and 600 litres of the finest wine. I often wonder what it must have tasted like, exquisite, I’m sure. When I was a full-time hospital chaplain in Bolton, I was part of an ecumenical team, and we had a lovely man called Allan in the team who was a teetotal evangelical, we loved to tease him over this Gospel. What it shows is God’s great generosity, there are no half measures with him, he provides for us in abundance. After all, at every Mass he offers us the gift of his very self in Holy Communion, and he doesn’t just give in quantity, he gives quality too, nothing but the best for us his beloved people, that’s why he gives us his very self, the very best.
It was the first of his signs, his first miracle, pointing clearly to who he is, and his disciples believed in him. There’s a lovely kindness and gentleness about this miracle. It’s done quietly and without fanfare but with concern for a newly married couple. Jesus gives us a great example of how simple, kind, thoughtful acts can make a big difference. We can’t work miracles like Jesus but with kindness and thoughtfulness we can save people from hurt and embarrassment, like Jesus did.
I do like this Gospel of the Wedding Feast at Cana, it shows both Jesus’ humanity and his divinity. Jesus is at a Wedding Feast with his Mother and his disciples and they were no doubt enjoying themselves at one of the great events of Jewish life where the celebrations could last for several days. However, something is wrong and Mary notices, ‘They have no wine’. It gives us a beautiful picture of Mary as observant, kindly, caring and thoughtful, for the wedding celebrations would end abruptly in embarrassment and hurt if they ran out of wine.
Jesus doesn’t seem ready to intervene, but Mary knows what he can do and gives us all an instruction to take to heart, ‘Do whatever Jesus tells you’. Jesus, in typical fashion, for there were no half measures with him, produced between 420 and 600 litres of the finest wine. I often wonder what it must have tasted like, exquisite, I’m sure. When I was a full-time hospital chaplain in Bolton, I was part of an ecumenical team, and we had a lovely man called Allan in the team who was a teetotal evangelical, we loved to tease him over this Gospel. What it shows is God’s great generosity, there are no half measures with him, he provides for us in abundance. After all, at every Mass he offers us the gift of his very self in Holy Communion, and he doesn’t just give in quantity, he gives quality too, nothing but the best for us his beloved people, that’s why he gives us his very self, the very best.
It was the first of his signs, his first miracle, pointing clearly to who he is, and his disciples believed in him. There’s a lovely kindness and gentleness about this miracle. It’s done quietly and without fanfare but with concern for a newly married couple. Jesus gives us a great example of how simple, kind, thoughtful acts can make a big difference. We can’t work miracles like Jesus but with kindness and thoughtfulness we can save people from hurt and embarrassment, like Jesus did.
The Order of the Mass
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
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To watch other videos about St Catherine's please see our Parish YouTube channel