Short and Sweet Headlines are Best!
January 19, 2025
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 62: 1-5
Psalm 96
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2: 1-11
STEWARDSHIP
The Joy and Levity of a Lifelong Relationship
A lifelong relationship with the Lord is like the Joy and Levity of a Wedding Feast. In the Gospel story, at the direction of His mother Mary, Jesus provides way beyond what was needed for a fine wedding feast. Moreover, what was served up was irrational! That was how good the provisions the Lord provided were. It was noted, “But you kept the good wine until now.”
The story of the wedding feast (Gospel) points to an age of abundance. Such comes with a committed relationship with God! The best of everything in life that is fulfilling will come to be. The Grace and Goodness that comes are exuberant just as the joy and levity of a wedding feast that celebrates a new lifelong relationship. But a relationship that is found in the Lord is even beyond the joy of a new marriage with all its hopes and dreams.
God provides an abundance of gifts distributed among the many members of the community of faith. Each member has his or her own talent. Each talented person edifies the whole community. This shared distribution of wealth illustrates God’s love and God’s life manifested in His community of faith which is the Church. Saint Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Corinthians.
Speaking of all the gifts God gives to the community of faith, Paul states, “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” In the Old Testament reading (Is. 62) the prophet Isaiah speaks to this gracious relationship similarly.
Saint Paul points out the Lord greatly wants to celebrate His relationship as one would have in a joyous wedding reception. The future of the relationship is full of great promise. All things will be bright when a relationship is based in a firm, reliable commitment. There is a new life to look forward to. But hopes and dreams may be fleeting. The hard work of commitment is needed in every relationship that is attempted in life.
Jesus gives us the supreme example of commitment. He is so bound to His love for the Father and the Father’s love for Him that He dies for the relationship. He does not give into a fleeting earth bound or transient infatuation. From the start of His ministry, Jesus rejects the devil’s offer of an earthly kingdom. “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdomsof the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan!’” (Matthew 4: 8-11)
So friends, do you have a commitment in life? What is that commitment? What is it based in? Is it a lifelong relationship?
Make a commitment to the Lord God. Start a relationship with God. To begin, simply say this prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner.” Go ahead, say it several times over. Simply begin the relationship with that phrase. Say it over and over every day. And watch for it. The Joy and Levity of a lifelong relationship may begin.
The story of the wedding feast (Gospel) points to an age of abundance. Such comes with a committed relationship with God! The best of everything in life that is fulfilling will come to be. The Grace and Goodness that comes are exuberant just as the joy and levity of a wedding feast that celebrates a new lifelong relationship. But a relationship that is found in the Lord is even beyond the joy of a new marriage with all its hopes and dreams.
God provides an abundance of gifts distributed among the many members of the community of faith. Each member has his or her own talent. Each talented person edifies the whole community. This shared distribution of wealth illustrates God’s love and God’s life manifested in His community of faith which is the Church. Saint Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Corinthians.
Speaking of all the gifts God gives to the community of faith, Paul states, “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” In the Old Testament reading (Is. 62) the prophet Isaiah speaks to this gracious relationship similarly.
Saint Paul points out the Lord greatly wants to celebrate His relationship as one would have in a joyous wedding reception. The future of the relationship is full of great promise. All things will be bright when a relationship is based in a firm, reliable commitment. There is a new life to look forward to. But hopes and dreams may be fleeting. The hard work of commitment is needed in every relationship that is attempted in life.
Jesus gives us the supreme example of commitment. He is so bound to His love for the Father and the Father’s love for Him that He dies for the relationship. He does not give into a fleeting earth bound or transient infatuation. From the start of His ministry, Jesus rejects the devil’s offer of an earthly kingdom. “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdomsof the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan!’” (Matthew 4: 8-11)
So friends, do you have a commitment in life? What is that commitment? What is it based in? Is it a lifelong relationship?
Make a commitment to the Lord God. Start a relationship with God. To begin, simply say this prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner.” Go ahead, say it several times over. Simply begin the relationship with that phrase. Say it over and over every day. And watch for it. The Joy and Levity of a lifelong relationship may begin.
Peace and blessings,
Father Bob
Father Bob
Father Bob's
Video Reflections
Each week Father Bob posts a Video Reflection on the Spiritual readings for the weekend Mass. These Videos are not intended to replace your prescence at mass each week! Much like Scripture Sharing on Thursday evening from 7 pm - 8 pm, these videos act as a point of reference to enhance your knowledge and better prepare you to participate in each weeks celebration.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
The Jesus Prayer...
Lord Jesus Christ
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
Sacraments of Healing
Sacraments of Service
Click on the links below for more information
This Weeks Scripture Readings
January 19, 2025
Second Sunday in Ordinary Times
Reading I
Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken, “
or your land “Desolate, “
but you shall be called “My Delight, “
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken, “
or your land “Desolate, “
but you shall be called “My Delight, “
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.
Psalm
Psalm 96
R. (3) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Reading 2
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.
Alleluia
2 Thessalonians 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Gospel
John 2:1-11
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.
Next Weeks Readings
January 26, 2025
Second Sunday in Ordinary Times
Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Second Sunday in Ordinary Times
Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21