Saints + Scripture: II Sunday in Ordinary Time

Better Late than Never, VI for VII | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-two, verses one thru five;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses one & two, two & three, seven & eight, & nine & ten;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter twelve, verses four thru eleven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter two, verses one thru eleven.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel we read about the wedding at Cana. Jesus’ mother is the first to speak, as John tells the story: “They have no wine.” On the surface level, she is indeed commenting on a social disaster, running out of wine at a party, and she is asking Jesus to do something to make things better.

But let’s go deeper. Wine, in the Scriptures, is a symbol of the exuberance and intoxication of the divine life. When God is in us, we are lifted up, rendered joyful, transfigured. Therefore, when Mary says, “They have no more wine,” she is speaking of all of Israel and indeed all of the human race. They have run out of the exuberance and joyfulness that comes from union with God.

And this is precisely why Jesus calls her “woman.” We can be easily misled into thinking that he was being curt or disrespectful. But he was addressing her with the title of Eve, the mother of all the living. Mary is the representative here of suffering humanity, complaining to God that the joy of life has run out.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Eight
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

The human heart is on a quest for happiness. Every person years for happiness like the desert years for rain. You have a desire for happiness; I have a desire for happiness. This desire is universal, common to every member of the human family. We simply desire to be happy, & we act from this desire. We often do things that we think will make us happy, only to discover that they end up making us miserable. This is often because we confuse pleasure for happiness. And sometimes long-term misery comes disguised as short-term pleasure.

†

Otherwise, 20 January would be the festival of Saint Fabian, Pope & Martyr (circa 200-250, A.K.A. Flavian), twentieth (XX) Bishop of Rome, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of the Decian Persecution: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Sebastian, Martyr (circa 256-288), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, on the site where now sits the church of San Sebatiano al Palatino; he was laid to rest in the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, atop which sits the basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le mura: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Palatine, Wikipedia-link Catacombs, & Wikipedia-link outside the Walls.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Féchín of Fore, Priest & Abbot (died circa 665; also spelt Féichín, A.K.A. Mo-Ecca; Fore is Fhobhair in the Irish, Anglicized as Fobar), founder of Fore Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Wulfstan of Worcester, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 1008-1095, also spelt Wulstan), founder of the Great Malvern Priory: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Priory.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Henry of Uppsala, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 1156; A.K.A. Henrik, Heikki), martyred by the already excommunicated murderer Lalli: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Basil Moreau, Priest, C.S.C. (1799-1873), founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.), the Marianites of Holy Cross (M.S.C.), the Sisters of Holy Cross (Notre Dame), & the Sisters of Holy Cross (Montreal): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.S.C., Wikipedia-link M.S.C., Wikipedia-link Notre Dame, & Wikipedia-link Montreal.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"There exists a close connection between holiness of life & the promotion of a more human way of life in society, for it is from a converted & reconciled heart that goodness & justice flow in human relations. Time & energy given to the life of the spirit is not time & energy taken away from service."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' the Day

"Most modern freedom is at root fear. It is not so much that we are too bold to endure rules; it is rather than we are too timid to endure responsibilities."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)