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Commentary on the Gospel for Sunday, January 19, 2025
Do Whatever He Tells You
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and blessings to you.
The first reading sets the tone: “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” The prophet Isaiah describes God’s relationship with His people as a marriage—an intimate relationship of love. It’s a promise of the love we celebrated at Christmas, the love of God for all humanity.
This love shows itself in the different gifts that God gives to each one of us. These are the “charisms” mentioned in the second reading. A charism is a “free gift from God”—a precious and valuable grace. However, in the community of Corinth, these gifts caused confusion. Some people used them to seek attention and status, creating divisions, jealousy, and envy.
There are many kinds of charisms, reflecting the richness and creativity of the Holy Spirit. Every believer is unique and has a specific role to play in the community. But all are united by the same Spirit, who gives and guides these gifts. These spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities given by God to build up the faith community. They are meant to encourage love and unity, not competition. Let’s not forget this, so we can work for unity and not division, knowing that each of us has a gift to share.
In the Gospel, we hear about a wedding that could have gone terribly wrong due to a lack of wine. The couple would have faced shame and embarrassment in front of their guests. We don’t know much about them—only the groom appears briefly—but it’s certain this day stayed in their memories forever.
A wedding is always a celebration. And Jesus shows us He’s there for the good times and the bad. He is present in every human situation, every place. He’s in Cana, and He’s in Bethany. He’s with us in the joyful moments of life, as well as in our earthly celebrations. He isn’t a grumpy God who wants us to renounce all the good things in life. As our Creator, He gives us food to sustain us, filled with flavors to enjoy.
At the same time, Jesus is present in moments of pain. In the Gospel of John, we also see Him in Bethany, comforting Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus had died. Jesus is the one who can turn desperate situations around. He changes water into wine, sadness into joy, suffering into hope, and even death into life. The final sign in John’s Gospel reveals this, but today’s story at Cana is the first sign: here at a wedding banquet, Jesus begins to show who He truly is.
In Cana, Jesus reveals His transforming, saving power, and shows the importance of faith and obedience in our relationship with Him. He invites us to trust His providence and follow His guidance, knowing He can turn even the hardest situations into blessings and grace.
This miracle happened thanks to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. She noticed what was happening and brought it to Jesus. Through her, the time for His mission arrived. “Do whatever He tells you.” With those words, Mary shows us how the Church should live: with open eyes, aware of what’s happening around us, interceding for others, praying for those in need or suffering. And always with faith, trusting that God hears us, even when it seems He doesn’t.
Today is a good day to ask the Lord to make us faithful stewards of the gifts He has given us—always attentive, always willing, always trusting—all for the glory of God and the salvation of our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Your brother in faith,