Daily Readings - Sun Jan 16 2022

¹For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.²The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.³You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.⁴You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.⁵For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

1 Corinthians

Chapter 12

⁴Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;⁵and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;⁶and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.⁷To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.⁸To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,¹⁰to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.¹¹All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

John

Chapter 2

¹On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.²Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.³When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."⁴And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."⁵His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."⁶Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.⁷Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.⁸And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.⁹When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom¹⁰and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."¹¹This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.¹²After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of transformation, unity, and trust in God's plan. The first reading from Isaiah 62:1-5 paints a vivid picture of hope and renewal. Isaiah speaks of a time when Zion and Jerusalem will be transformed, shedding their old identities of desolation for new names that reflect God's delight and presence. This passage, set in a post-exilic context, offers comfort to a people yearning for restoration, promising that God will not rest until His light shines upon them. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 shifts our focus to the early Christian community, where Paul emphasizes the diversity of spiritual gifts. He reminds us that while our talents and abilities may differ, they all originate from the same Spirit. This unity in diversity is crucial for the functioning of the body of Christ, where each member contributes uniquely yet harmoniously. Paul's message underscores the importance of valuing each person's contribution, recognizing that together, we form a cohesive whole working towards the common good. In the Gospel of John 2:1-12, we witness the first of Jesus's miracles at the wedding in Cana. This event is a turning point, as Jesus transforms water into wine, revealing His glory and leading His disciples to faith. Mary's intercession and trust in her Son exemplify the importance of prayer and surrender to God's timing. The miracle not only highlights Jesus's divine power but also symbolizes the transformation He brings into our lives, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Like the people of Zion, we may await transformation, trusting in God's promise of renewal. Like the Corinthians, we are called to recognize and utilize our unique gifts for the benefit of others. And like the wedding guests, we are reminded to trust in God's timing and to be open to the miraculous in our everyday lives. Let us embrace our roles, trust in God's plan, and remain open to the transformative power of His Spirit. In doing so, we may become instruments of hope, unity, and renewal in a world that deeply needs it.