Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends,

On the seventh day of Jesus' opening week of public ministry we hear about his first miracle, the wedding feast at Cana. When the wine gave out, Mary was more concerned with the guests than the wine-steward; for she was the one who noticed the shortage. Upon noticing this, she quickly turns to Jesus who responds by calling her Woman. Although it might offend the standards of modern etiquette, this was a title of respect and endearment in antiquity. Jesus' further response, "how does your concern affect me?" is a Hebrew idiom typically presupposing some perceived tension between two parties having contrary perspectives. Within this context we can find the beauty within this dialogue between mother and son.

It is within this interaction that Mary is giving us her Son who was hidden for 30 years. It is within the need of replenishing wine, that Mary initiates Jesus' first miracle. And it is within this first miracle that begins Jesus' journey to the cross. Fulton Sheen describes how "few mothers send their sons to battlefields; but here was one who was actually hastening the hour of her Son’s mortal conflict with the forces of evil. If He agreed to her request, He would be beginning His hour of death and glorification."

I find that here at the beginning of Ordinary Time, the Church is reminding us to remember the role of Mary in our relationship with Jesus. It is through her motherly concern that she gently reminds us to do whatever Jesus tells us. There is no better way to do this than praying the Rosary. The Rosary is incarnational as the repetition of each Hail Mary brings to life Jesus in each mystery. As we meditate on the life of Christ, it leads to being transformed into the one who we meditate on.

P.S. - If you need some accountability, search The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) on Apple/Spotify...it's currently the #5 followed podcast and worth a listen!

-Anthony Quinn, Young Adult Coordinator