Weekly Reflection

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
“The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind’s eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection.” St. Gregory the Great.

In today’s first reading, the people listened to Ezra as he reads the Law of God to them. In the second reading, St. Paul teaches that we are one body in Christ as baptized children of God. And in the gospel, Jesus reads from the book of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue.

How valuable is the word of God to us? What place does it occupy? These are questions that every Christian must ask. And to these concerns, we must give proper answers. Ezra, the priest, read the Law of God to the Israelites from early morning till noon, and the Israelites listened attentively. The people wept because the Word of God challenged them. They must have realized how they fell short of utilizing it in their lives. If only we could listen to the Word of God and allow ourselves to be impacted by it in the same way.

Luke in the gospel begins by stating the reason for writing; he wrote so that Theophilus, to whom he addressed it, might believe more profoundly in the teaching he had received about Jesus. The Word of God intensifies and fortifies our faith in Jesus Christ. As Jesus states in the gospel, the words of the scripture are fulfilled in him. The Word of God leads us to more excellent knowledge of Jesus. As St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” We must meditate on the Word of God daily so that we may know Jesus better, love him more passionately, and serve him more faithfully.

When was the last time you read or listened attentively to the word of God?

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Mary notes our needs before we ourselves feel them.” - Venerable Fulton Sheen

In today's first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks of Zion's turnaround. In the second reading, St. Paul affirms that we have been gifted with different charisms. And in the gospel, St. John narrates the story of the wedding at Cana.

In the last couple of weeks, we have been reflecting on the manifestations of the Lord. We began with the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord and followed by the Baptism of the Lord. Today, the gospel reading offers us another revelation of Jesus as we meditate on the wedding at Cana. The presence of Jesus at the wedding emphasizes the presence of God as the foundation of every marriage. In the man and woman union, the couple shares in God's love. Consequently, we learn to invite Mary and Jesus into our homes, especially when faced with family challenges. The presence of Jesus and Mary in our family will encourage us to create a Holy Family striving in piety through mutual respect, forgiveness, bible study, and prayer.  

Also, the wedding at Canna points to the power of God over nature. Through the miracle, Jesus shows that he understands our needs and is always interested in our joy. The wedding feast could have become an embarrassment, but Jesus chose to perform a sign to put a smile on the people's faces. Similarly, Jesus can intervene in our lives and situations. Following Mary's example, we must always turn to Jesus for his will to be done in our lives.

Is your marriage, family, or existence at the point of facing embarrassing moments? Then, invite Mary to intercede for you and do whatever the Lord asks of you.