January 17, 2016: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

These students “listen” to the reason behind the rule and cooperatively do their homework.

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 the 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. (John 2:1-11)

Reflection:

Many years ago one of my second graders’ parents gave our class a seven foot Christmas tree. Immediately the students began brainstorming ways to decorate it, and lights seemed to be a high priority. Unfortunately the school had a rule against having lights on “real” Christmas trees in the classroom. My students and I talked about this rule and the reason behind it. After much discussion and listening to each other, we began planning creative ways to decorate our tree and to make ornaments…without lights.

The root word for obedience is “to listen.” Listening to each other, me, and the reason behind the rule was exactly what my students were doing. In today’s gospel reading Jesus listens to his mother and to the needs of the hosts and guests attending the wedding. Jesus is obedient and responds to the concern of his mother.

Action:

This week reflect on a rule in your life…think about it and discuss with others the reasons for this rule.