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Posts Tagged ‘Ordinary Time’
2nd Sunday – Wedding at Cana – turning water into wine
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- This Sunday marks the beginning of ‘Ordinary’ Time. The season of Christmas has ended. Isaiah is among the group of Jewish exiles who return to Jerusalem (Zion). They see a city in ruins. Some wish to return to Babylon. Isaiah sees in hope and envisions a city shining beautifully ‘like a burning torch’. When some think ‘Foresaken’ Isaiah thinks ‘My delight’. When some see ‘desolate’ Isaiah sees ‘Married’. As you look at Yourself, the Church and the World, what do you ‘see’? How do you think God ‘sees’ You, the Church, the World? Do you need to move from self condemning thoughts to rejoicing thoughts? Imagine God wanting to dance and rejoice with you as if in a marriage dance. What are your feelings…..
- St Paul is concerned about people in the Corinthian community who consider only christians who have the gift of tongues have great spiritual powers. Self righteous people have hurt others in the community. St Paul wants to heal the community and remind people there are many gifts – (and he places tongues last!). What gifts have you noticed within you? In others? What area of need in the Church matches your passion, energy and ‘gifts’?
- Have you ever invited someone to do something and their response was ‘I’m not quite ready’. Its not the right time. Mary encourages her son Jesus into public ministry today – and does not get put off with his response! But Jesus reminds ‘this woman’ his ‘hour’ is something deeply personal and between him and the Father. Have you reached a point in life when your ‘hour’ is near? Is it time to commit to a public witness of your faith? To ministry. Single life. Marriage. Religious life. Priesthood? Will you listen to the Father? Have you had a ‘Mary’ person ask and invite you into service? What was your response?
- ‘They have no wine’ is a reflection on the water jars which were used for purification and ritual cleansing. The jars are symbolic for the Gospel of John. Striving to be clean and not ‘unclean’. Judaism was strict. It was hard work being in right relations with God. There were so many laws and rules to obey. There was no joy – no wine. In Jesus’ first ‘sign’, Judaism (Water) is replaced with Christianity (Wine) which is ultimately pointing to Christ’s blood poured out on the cross forgiving us – cleansing us. What is the difference between ‘water’ and ‘wine’? Is your spiritual journey like water or wine?
- The Jewish people had a prophecy that when the Messiah came there would be an abundance of great wine. Jesus’ first public ‘sign’ in the Gospel of John is to enter a marriage ceremony and replace water with $15,000 of the best wine at the wedding. What do you think this reveals? For John, a ‘sign’ points to a deeper reality. Do you ‘believe’?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
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Reflection Questions
- In the first reading the People of God were returning from exile in Babylon. They were a band of refugees returning to their ‘religious’ home. Nehemiah was their leader helping the community to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem. Ezra was their priest leading the community in listening to the ‘laws’ of God. Ezra is known for strict adherence to the laws of Moses and not allowing intermarriage. The people cry because they hear the law and have it interpreted for them so that they understand. Is there an area of the Church’s teaching which you may need to hear and have interpreted for you? What is it? Who could you ask for help? Why do you think Ezra tells them to eat and drink?
- St Paul continues teaching the community about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some of the community thought they were ‘better’ than others because they had the gift of tongues. St Paul teaches the gifts of the spirit serve the community and help it to truly be the ‘body’ of Christ in the world. Do you feel your gifting for serving the Church is in the head (teaching), heart (caring), hands (serving), feet (missionary) of the Church? Are you accepting and celebrate your gifts or are you ‘jealous’ of others? How could you share your gifting this week? This year? In your Parish?
- In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus begins his ‘public’ ministry to the most difficult group – his hometown! Jesus is clear and bold in his vision. Do you have a clear sense of mission and purpose in your life and service of God? Jesus uses 50 words, what would you write in 50 words for your personal mission statement as you begin the year?
- The ‘Lord’s year of favour’ is the 50th year (the Jubilee Year as established in Leviticus 25). Debts were cancelled, prisoners and slaves freed, land was returned to its original family ownership. The whole financial, social and political structure was renewed. The Jewish people called this the ‘Tikkan Olam’ meaning ‘the repair of the world’. Repairing the world is an essential part of the work of the Church and every follower of Jesus. Allow this idea to enter your imagination for a moment. Do you consider ‘healing the world’ as part of your consciousness and job description as a follower of Jesus? What area of need in the world ‘attracts you’ -calls out to you? What has been your response so far?
- This year we will journey with Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. A focus for Luke is Jesus’ care and attention to those who are hurting, excluded, ‘downtrodden’. If you were to look about in your family, community, wider society, who do you notice has been knocked over and hurt by life… and is now ‘trampled on’ by the invisible hidden foot of societies structures? The Gospel of Luke is also known as the ‘Gospel of Mercy’. Mercy comes from the Hebrew word for ‘womb’. Will you be moved to compassion for those in need? Information without application is fascination. Information with application is transformation. Will the Gospel of Luke transform you this year?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
Download 2nd Sunday Yr C
Reflection Questions
- This Sunday marks the beginning of ‘Ordinary’ Time. The season of Christmas has ended. Isaiah is among the group of Jewish exiles who return to Jerusalem (Zion). They see a city in ruins. Some wish to return to Babylon. Isaiah sees in hope and envisions a city shining beautifully ‘like a burning torch’. When some think ‘Foresaken’ Isaiah thinks ‘My delight’. When some see ‘desolate’ Isaiah sees ‘Married’. As you look at Yourself, the Church and the World, what do you ‘see’? How do you think God ‘sees’ You, the Church, the World? Do you need to move from self condemning thoughts to rejoicing thoughts? Imagine God wanting to dance and rejoice with you as if in a marriage dance. What are your feelings…..
- St Paul is concerned about people in the Corinthian community who consider only christians who have the gift of tongues have great spiritual powers. Self righteous people have hurt others in the community. St Paul wants to heal the community and remind people there are many gifts – (and he places tongues last!). What gifts have you noticed within you? In others? What area of need in the Church matches your passion, energy and ‘gifts’?
- Have you ever invited someone to do something and their response was ‘I’m not quite ready’. Its not the right time. Mary encourages her son Jesus into public ministry today – and does not get put off with his response! But Jesus reminds ‘this woman’ his ‘hour’ is something deeply personal and between him and the Father. Have you reached a point in life when your ‘hour’ is near? Is it time to commit to a public witness of your faith? To ministry. Single life. Marriage. Religious life. Priesthood? Will you listen to the Father? Have you had a ‘Mary’ person ask and invite you into service? What was your response?
- ‘They have no wine’ is a reflection on the water jars which were used for purification and ritual cleansing. The jars are symbolic for the Gospel of John. Striving to be clean and not ‘unclean’. Judaism was strict. It was hard work being in right relations with God. There were so many laws and rules to obey. There was no joy – no wine. In Jesus’ first ‘sign’, Judaism (Water) is replaced with Christianity (Wine) which is ultimately pointing to Christ’s blood poured out on the cross forgiving us – cleansing us. What is the difference between ‘water’ and ‘wine’? Is your spiritual journey like water or wine?
- The Jewish people had a prophecy that when the Messiah came there would be an abundance of great wine. Jesus’ first public ‘sign’ in the Gospel of John is to enter a marriage ceremony and replace water with $15,000 of the best wine at the wedding. What do you think this reveals? For John, a ‘sign’ points to a deeper reality. Do you ‘believe’?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?