GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 7TH JANUARY 2017
SATURDAY – CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
FIRST READING: 1John 5:14-21
PSALM: Psalm 149:1-6, 9
GOSPEL: John 2:1-11
THEME: DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU
At a Christian gathering in Brockton, Massachusetts, in the year 1887, a young man who had just given his life to the Lord stood up and said, “I am not quite sure – I am going to trust and obey”. These words, which express the feelings of many Christians, caught the attention of the music leader at the programme, Daniel Towner, and that was the genesis of the popular song – Trust and Obey.
We are all not quite sure of how events in our lives are going to unfold; we do not know what tomorrow would be like. There are moments when “earthquakes” and “hurricanes” tear apart our personal worlds and we run out of wine at a time when we need it most.
The narrative account of the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-11) has various theological themes, depending on the angle from which one looks at it. Of particular interest, however, in this reflection is the counsel of the mother of Jesus to the servants – “Do whatever He tells you”. It is an invitation to trust and obey Jesus without any reservation.
The command to fill jars with water at a time when wine was needed does not make sense. It must have been a real test of faith for the servants at the wedding but they remembered the words of the mother of Jesus and did what appeared to be “stupid to the senses”. Their faith yielded good results – “When the steward 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 steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now’ ” (Jn. 2:9-10).
Faith does not go against sense but above sense. It throws light into situations where perception is impossible for the senses.
Generally, a patient would take the medicine prescribed by a doctor even if he/she has no knowledge of the scientific processes that led to the manufacturing of the medicine. The patient obeys and takes the medicine because he trusts the judgement of the doctor. We can equally trust Jesus, the Lord of lords, in every sphere of our existence.
In good times and bad, “do whatever he tells you”; when you receive an appointment or disappointment, “do whatever he tells you”; when you are holy or you have sinned, “do whatever he tells you”. In every situation, “do whatever he tells you”. It is when we trust and obey that He turns our water into wine.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I place my trust in you and I purpose in my heart to do whatever you tell me. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).