Sunday, January 20, 2013
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96:1-3, 7-10
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-11

Our soul has been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken: and we are delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

-- Ps. 124: 7,8

This passage from Isaiah is a mission statement for the coming Messiah.
What's your mission?
As it was then, the time to act is now!
This was not just for Jesus, it is a clarion call for each one us to spread the Good News whenever we can.

In 1Corinthians 12:4-11 today Paul expounds on the Spiritual Gifts, some of which we all have, different though they are we are called to be aware, and act on them as we are guided by the Holy Spirit.

In John: 2-11 in the reading John calls us to: "Make the Connection." Mind your Mama! In this popular story, we tend to focus on the miracle itself, changing water to wine. And, since it occurred at the wedding, we tend to anchor the importance of marriage in the the first sign of Jesus in John's gospel. Yet, from an African American perspective, Jesus was just "minding his mama," a well know expression that tells where to turn when it's not clear what we should do. In the story Mary took the initiative. She raised the issue with Jesus, saying,"They have no wine" and instructed the servants to "Do whatever he tells you." Mama took charge. Embracing Mary as our mother, we too, must follow her directions to do whatever Jesus tells us. In other words, we need to mind our mamas.

Make the Connection, Act Now