Daily Readings - Sun Jan 19 2025

¹For the sake of Zion, I will not be silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem, I will not rest, until her Just One advances in splendor, and her Savior is kindled like a lamp²And the Gentiles will see your Just One, and all the kings will see your Renown One. And you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will choose³And you shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God⁴You will no longer be called Forsaken. And your land will no longer be called Desolate. Instead, you shall be called My Will within it, and your land shall be called Inhabited. For the Lord has been well pleased with you, and your land will be inhabited⁵For the young man will live with the virgin, and your children will live with you. And the groom will rejoice over the bride, and your God will rejoice over you

1 Corinthians

Chapter 12

⁴Truly, there are diverse graces, but the same Spirit⁵And there are diverse ministries, but the same Lord⁶And there are diverse works, but the same God, who works everything in everyone⁷However, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one toward what is beneficial⁸Certainly, to one, through the Spirit, is given words of wisdom; but to another, according to the same Spirit, words of knowledge⁹to another, in the same Spirit, faith; to another, in the one Spirit, the gift of healing¹⁰to another, miraculous works; to another, prophecy; to another, the discernment of spirits; to another, different kinds of languages; to another, the interpretation of words¹¹But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one according to his will

John

Chapter 2

¹And on the third day, a wedding was held in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there²Now Jesus was also invited to the wedding, with his disciples³And when the wine was failing, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine.⁴And Jesus said to her: "What is that to me and to you, woman? My hour has not yet arrived.⁵His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you.⁶Now in that place, there were six stone water jars, for the purification ritual of the Jews, containing two or three measures each⁷Jesus said to them, "Fill the water jars with water." And they filled them to the very top⁸And Jesus said to them, "Now draw from it, and carry it to the chief steward of the feast." And they took it to him⁹Then, when the chief steward had tasted the water made into wine, since he did not know where it was from, for only the servants who had drawn the water knew, the chief steward called the groom¹⁰and he said to him: "Every man offers the good wine first, and then, when they have become inebriated, he offers what is worse. But you have kept the good wine until now.¹¹This was the beginning of the signs that Jesus accomplished in Cana of Galilee, and it manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him¹²After this, he descended to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, but they did not remain there for many days

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of hope, unity, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful vision of restoration and renewal. Zion, once forsaken, is now called by a new name, and her land, once desolate, is inhabited and fruitful. This passage speaks of God’s delight in His people and His commitment to bring light and joy where there was once darkness and abandonment. It is a message of hope, reminding us that even in times of trial, God’s plan for us is one of love and transformation. The second reading from 1 Corinthians emphasizes the diversity of spiritual gifts within the Church. Paul reminds us that while the gifts may differ, they all come from the same Spirit and are meant to serve the common good. This passage calls us to unity and collaboration, recognizing that each person has a unique role to play in the Body of Christ. Just as the Spirit distributes gifts according to His will, we are invited to use our talents and abilities to build up the community and glorify God. In the Gospel, we witness the first public sign of Jesus’ ministry at the wedding in Cana. When the wine runs out, Mary’s intercession leads Jesus to perform a miraculous act, turning water into wine. This story highlights the importance of faith and obedience. Mary’s trust in her Son and the servants’ willingness to do as Jesus instructed made the miracle possible. It also reveals the abundance of God’s grace, as the best wine is saved for last. Like the wedding guests, we are called to recognize and celebrate the presence of God in our lives, even in the most ordinary moments. These readings remind us that God’s presence is transformative and that His plan for us is always one of love and renewal. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to recognize the ways in which God is at work, to use our gifts for the good of others, and to trust in His providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. May we, like Mary, have the courage to bring our needs to Jesus and, like the servants, be willing to do His will. In doing so, we will experience the joy and abundance that only God can provide.