Daily Gospel Reflection for January 16, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 2: 1-11

Jesus’ public ministry first began at a wedding. It is a beautiful to contemplate the symbolism of this, especially the preeminent role that God intended for marriage and family life.

Upon reading the Wedding at Cana again, I was struck by the role that the Blessed Mother plays in today’s reading. It was her instinct – her faith – that forced the issue. Jesus’ initial response to the news that the wine had run out seems uninterested at best, dismissive at worst. All this implies that Jesus had not intended for this moment to be the one where He would reveal himself.

We often think about life in terms of controlling timing. Many engaged couples at our diocesan Celebrating Your Love (Pre-Cana) retreat will ask about the ideal timing for having a family. Does that even exist? Are we ever truly ready for the moments that shape us and our vocations?

I like to think of “timing” more in terms of God’s opportunities. Maybe God presents one person with a beautiful call on an idle Tuesday. Or maybe God readies another person for years for a distinct shift in life. All of these moments – surprising or not – speak to the need for ongoing discernment. We need to be aware of where God is calling us throughout the subtle movements of our life.

If we are discerning well, we might just realize that God’s timing and our own are one in the same.

Ponder:

What is God's timing?

Pray:

Loving God, we ask for Your guidance to recognize that certain moments and events happen for reasons that we may not initially understand. We pray to trust in the timing which You have laid out for our lives.