God chose you to be a Sign to the World of Divine Love

Ish 62:1-5, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, Jn 2:1-11. On this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, the Church invites us to imitate the loving, compassionate and caring God. In today's first reading, the Prophet Isaiah proclaims that God will give to Israel a new name "My delight", Hephzibah. By this action God says to the people of Israel: "I am the perfect lover who will change your situation from worse to better. You have followed other lovers who have made your situation worse such as the gods of the Assyrians and that of the Babylonians." The change of name implies a change of attitude also as in the approach of the religion of the new covenant, which is demonstrated by Jesus. When God chose Israel, He considered His relationship with them as that between a bridegroom and bride. When the people of Israel were frustrated He rekindled their hope. Israel was unfaithful in keeping the laws of the covenant. Their unfaithfulness led them to captivity and to untold suffering. They suffered defeat and captivity in the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.

God’s relationship with Israel gives us a perfect example of how a husband should treat his wife. In the New Testament, Christ established a new relationship with the new Israel, which is the Church. In this new relationship, Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is His bride. This relationship, like the one of the Old Covenant, is a relationship of unfailing love that everyone must offer their best. Today's second reading instructs us about the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believing community, the life of the Church, the bride of Christ. There are so many gifts given to benefit the community. Spiritual gifts are meant to benefit the believing community: Wisdom, knowledge, healing and faith are all wonderful gifts. Today's Gospel brings us to the first great miracle of Jesus: the wedding feast at Cana. Jesus made the people understand there is a bright side to life and that religion has a social dimension. At the wedding at Cana, Jesus demonstrated God’s interest in human affairs and His loving providence. We are unlike Jesus when we become anti-social in the name of religion and refuse to join in any celebration; we put religion on a reverse gear when we stubbornly refuse to attend social gatherings that promote peace and progress in the community; we misinterpret religion when we dodge and evade social responsibility in the name of religion. We degrade our faith when we neither greet nor interact with our neighbours in the name of piety. In order to defend our anti-social stand we quote the Biblical verse: “Light has nothing to do with darkness” (2 Cor. 6:14), but how can the people in darkness see the light, unless someone brings it to them? Jesus tells us to let our light shine in the darkness of the world.

May we continue to be witnesses of the glory of God and may our faith strengthen us to be sharers of this glory in this life and in the life to come! Amen!! Good morning and happy Sunday!!!