January 17: Reflections On the Scripture Readings For This Sundays Mass

[Fidelis]

To help you prepare for this coming Sunday, here are the readings and reflections for this coming Sunday’s Scripture readings. This Sunday, the Gospel Reading is the story of the Wedding at Cana.

Here are the Scripture readings from the U.S. Catholic bishops website.

My own weekly study (along with Don Schwager’s meditation) can be found here under “Current Study.”

Reflections on the Sunday Scriptures to share with the younger ones in your family by Emily and Jeff Cavins can be found at Family Night .

Here also are links to audio reflections on the Gospel reading by Dr. Scott Hahn and Fr. Robert Barron.

The Navarre Bible Commentary for each reading can be viewed here.

Further study resources for the Readings can be found here and here.

Discussion and charitible comments are always welcome. Have a blessed and holy Lord’s day!

http://www.monasteryicons.com/graphics/products/regular/462.jpg

 

[Fidelis]

More audio Scripture studies on the readings for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time can be found here:

St. Martha Adult Faith Formation - Jeff Crandall

Sunday Gospel Scripture Study

Franciscan Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother

Renewal Ministries: Food For The Journey

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here are some additional audio litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Sunday%2C+January+17%2C+2010

 

[Fidelis]

Thanks John. I had trouble opening your site when I first tried it, but it seems to be working just fine now.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Fidelis,

I do want to say thanks for all you do, you provide a great service that highly impacts my site and those who visit it. My administrator always consults your site and gleans from it! Keep up the great work!

 

[Fidelis]

Thank you, COPLAND, the appreciation is mutual.

 

[cheeto1]

There is so much information, yet did anything strike either of you about today’s
readings? Did anything strike you today in any of the commentaries? Fidelis,
did you answer any of your questions?

“you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD”
– This line struck me today in Isaiah. Supposing the Lord gives us a new name?
In confirmation, we choose a name. I believe priests and nuns choose a name
too. Supposing God would name us. What would our name be? My old church
was called St. Barnabas. It is said in the bible that this name means “son of
encouragement”. Other names in the bible given by parents mean something
most of the time. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know what God would name us?
Would He name us by how we are, or how He knows we will be?

“Sing to the LORD a new song”
– While the first reading speaks of a new name, the psalm mentions a new
song. I have heard it said that our names are important. That people are
treated according to what parents and others envision when they hear that
name. If we had a new name, then maybe that would make us “sing a new
song”, or have new kinds of actions that go along with our new name.

“there are different forms of service but the same Lord”
– this seems to say that all gifts from the Holy Spirit are for service.

“Do whatever He tells you.”
– How did she know that Jesus would do something? His words seemed to
say the opposite.
These words of Mary are the key to our life, and the working of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus never got a new name. Because God already named Him.

 

[Fidelis]

Excuse me chopping up your quotes a bit to address them a little better, Cheeto–

"you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD"– This line struck me today in Isaiah. Supposing the Lord gives us a new name?

In confirmation, we choose a name. I believe priests and nuns choose a name too. Supposing God would name us. What would our name be? My old church was called St. Barnabas. It is said in the bible that this name means “son of encouragement”. Other names in the bible given by parents mean something most of the time. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know what God would name us?

Would He name us by how we are, or how He knows we will be?

…Jesus never got a new name. Because God already named Him.

Personally, I hope he will name me my screen name, Fidelis (i.e., “Faithful”). At the end of my life, I pray the Lord will see me as faithful to all his commands and his will for my life.

"Sing to the LORD a new song"– While the first reading speaks of a new name, the psalm mentions a new song. I have heard it said that our names are important. That people are treated according to what parents and others envision when they hear that name. If we had a new name, then maybe that would make us “sing a new song”, or have new kinds of actions that go along with our new name.

I’ve always thought of the “new song” is the “song” that we “sing” together through our words and deeds as the people of God–that is, God’s plan that was hidden and which he prepared the world for in ages past, the Good News of salvation through Jesus.

"there are different forms of service but the same Lord"– this seems to say that all gifts from the Holy Spirit are for service.

I agree. Also, if you place the emphasis at the other end of this (“but the same Lord”), we are reminded that the reasons we receive these gifts is, not for ourselves, but to serve the Lord and his Body, the Church.

“Do whatever He tells you.”– How did she know that Jesus would do something? His words seemed to say the opposite. These words of Mary are the key to our life, and the working of the Holy Spirit.

There’s a thread going on right now discussing this very thing.

Fulton Sheen, in his book “Life of Christ,” comments that Jesus only showed reluctance to accomplishing his mission twice in his life – once here, and once in the Garden of Gethsemane. The first time he acquiesed at the direction of his earthly mother; the second time he did so out of obedience to his Heavenly Father.

Fidelis, did you answer any of your questions?

We can go through the questions about the Gospel readings from my study, if you’d like. Here’s the gospel reading itself and my initial background:

Gospel
Jn 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.

The Gospel of the Lord.
**------------------------------------------------**Background:

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus, his Mother and some of his disciples are invited to a wedding in Cana, a small village 4-5 miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. Wedding feasts at the time could last more than a week (Judges 14:10-12). The time is right after his baptism (which we celebrated last week), but before he begins his public ministry.

(Note: in the West, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany and the visit of the Magi 2 weeks ago and the Baptism of the Lord last week. In the Eastern Church, Epiphany often includes those two events, as well as today’s Gospel reading, the Wedding at Cana. All three events are seen as being an epiphany—or “unveiling”—of Jesus to the world. The appearance of Jesus in Galilee also marks the beginning of God’s promise to restore and bring glory to his people, Israel—see the First Reading.)

Mary (who is never mentioned by name in John’s Gospel) brings it to Jesus’ attention that the wine has run out—a situation that would be an immense source of embarrassment for the newlywed couple and their families.

Even though Mary does not specifically make a request for Jesus to intervene, he knows what she is asking. He also knows that performing this miracle in public will make it necessary to begin his ministry and his journey toward the Cross.

 

[Fidelis]

For those who think they’d like to take a chrack at this, here is the first set of questions from the Sripture study:

**Jesus is not yet known as a miracle worker [at this point in John’s Gospel], so why does Mary approach him (verse 3)?

What do you learn about Jesus’ relationship with his Mother from this story? **

 

[cheeto1]

I’ve always thought of the “new song” is the “song” that we “sing” together through our words and deeds as the people of God

You don’t know how long I’ve been trying to figure out just exactly what this
“new song” means. I love your answer, the key word being “together”!

 

[cheeto1]

Personally, I hope he will name me my screen name, Fidelis (i.e., “Faithful”).

It’s a beautiful thought… I hope He’s more creative for my name since my screen
name is just my cat’s name!

 

[Cattitude]

Fidelis,

I do want to say thanks for all you do, you provide a great service that highly impacts my site and those who visit it. My administrator always consults your site and gleans from it! Keep up the great work!

Thanks to both of you for all you do! :clapping:

And thanks for all the other resources listed here, Fidelis.

 

[Fidelis]

Thanks to both of you for all you do! :clapping:

And thanks for all the other resources listed here, Fidelis.

You’re very welcome, Cattitude. And thank you for being the very faithful and supportive person that I know you are.