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MASS READINGS
January 18, 2004 (Readings on USCCB website)
COLLECT PRAYER
Father of heaven and earth, hear our prayers, and show us the way to peace in the world. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Today the Church celebrates the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time. Today's readings contain explicit nuptial references and are taken from Cycle C.
"Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him."
The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, 62:1-5. Isaiah compares Yahweh to a young man who marries a virgin. His loves transforms her. She used to be called "Forsaken". Now she has a new name, "My Delight".
The second reading is from the first Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 12:4-11 and teaches that God is the origin of spiritual gifts. The various graces which the members of the Church receive are a living reflection of God who, being essentially one, in so is a trinity of persons. Therefore, diversity of gifts and graces is as important as their basic unity, because all have the same divine origin and the same purpose—the common good. — Excerpted from The Navarre Bible, Corinthians
Today's Gospel is taken from St. John, 2:1-11, which recounts the events at the wedding feast at Cana. This is the occasion that Jesus chose to first reveal some of his inner reality. How much Jesus loves young married couples! He performs this miracle at the urging of his Mother, whom significantly he calls "Woman". Before the primeval sin our common mother was referred to as "the woman". (Gen 3) By the time of St. Irenaeus (2nd century) Christians saw Mary as the New Eve. — Fr. Phil Bloom
Things to Do:
- Read this sermon by Fr. Phil Bloom further explaining today's readings.
