THE DAILY GOSPEL

February 11, 2014 - Tuesday Our Lady of Lourdes Psalter: Proper Jdt 13:18, 19 You are the highest honor of our race. 1st Reading: Is 66:10-14

“Rejoice for Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her. Be glad with her, rejoice with her, all you who were in grief over her, 11 that you may suck of the milk from her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply from the abundance of her glory.”

For this is what Yahweh says: I will send her peace, overflowing like a river; and the nations’ wealth, rushing like a torrent towards her. And you will be nursed and carried in her arms and fondled upon her lap.

As a son comforted by his mother, so will I comfort you. At the sight of this, your heart will rejoice; like grass, your bones will flourish. For it shall be known that Yahweh’s hand is with his servant, but his fury is upon his enemy.

Gospel: Jn 2:1-11

Three days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus was also invited to the wedding with his disciples. When all the wine provided for the celebration had been served, and they had run out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus replied, “Woman, what concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come.”

However, his mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby were six stone water jars, set there for ritual washing as practiced by the Jews; each jar could hold 20 or 30 gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them to the brim. Then Jesus said, “Now draw some out and take it to the steward.” So they did.

The steward tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing from where it had come; for only the servants who had drawn the water knew. Immediately he called the bridegroom, and said, “Everyone serves the best wine first, and when people have drunk enough, he serves that which is ordinary. But you have kept the best wine until the end.”

This miraculous sign was the first, and Jesus performed it at Cana in Galilee. In this way he showed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Reflection

When God and human pride collide in the hearts and minds of people, God usually takes a beating. Take, for example, the gospel today wherein God’s commandments in time became supplanted by human rules. The people enforcing it will not hear of any contrary arguments even if in their hearts they know that it has merits. They feel personally for the status quo. It is not about what is right or wrong that is at stake. It is about personal pride. When this happens, sound reason takes a backseat. When criticized, resentment will set in, which in time, will turn to hatred. And so Jesus’ fate is not something hidden. The day He took on the religious leaders and their hypocrisy was the day His deathmarch began.