Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 16th January 2022
Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 62 v1-5; Psalm 36 v5-10; 1 Corinthians 12 v1-11; John 2 v1-11.
The generosity of God.
John wants his readers to be in no doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. Three times in the first chapter, Jesus’ true identity is revealed as the result of spiritual insight, firstly by John, the gospel writer (v14), then by John the Baptist (v18 and 34) and then by Nathanael, a disciple, (v49).
In today’s reading John recounts how Jesus revealed his true identity in the first of seven special miracles, or ‘signs’ (in the Greek text), that point to Jesus as the Son of God.
When the wine was all gone, Mary said to Jesus, “They don’t have any more wine.” Jesus replied, “Mother, my time hasn’t yet come!* You must not tell me what to do.” Mary then said to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.” (John 2 v3-5).
* ‘The time when the true glory of Jesus would be seen, and he would be recognized as God’s Son’. See, John 12 v23.(Bible footnote)
Jesus appears to be reluctant to reveal his true identity, but, I think that God wants to be generous and he prompts Mary to leave Jesus with little choice in the matter. Jesus is obedient to God’s will and changes water into wine. Jesus does so in a way that restricts the number of people who really know the source of the new supply of wine to a handful of servants, his own family and his disciples.
John comments, ‘This was Jesus’ first miracle, and he did it in the village of Cana in Galilee. There Jesus showed his glory and his disciples put their faith in him’. (v11).
The Psalmist, many years before, wrote about the generosity of God in terms of God’s love being a treasure.
‘Your love is a treasure, and everyone finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You give your guests a feast in your house, and you serve a tasty drink that flows like a river. The life-giving fountain belongs to you, and your light gives light to each of us’.
(Psalm 36 v7-9).
Paul, the apostle, writing to his friends in Corinth, talks about God’s generosity in terms of spiritual gifts. ‘There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do. The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. (1 Corinthians 12 v 4-7).
The hymn writer Brian Wren speaks of God’s gift to us and the work of the Holy Spirit.
(From Singing the Faith No 398 v 6,7).
May the Spirit fill our praise, guide our thoughts and change our ways.
God in Christ has come to stay. Live tomorrow’s life today.
There’s a Spirit in the air, calling people everywhere:
praise the love that Christ revealed, living, working, in our world.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.