Daily Scripture, January 19, 2025
Scripture:
Isaiah 62:1-5
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-11
Reflection:
You have kept the good wine until now.
These are the words the headwaiter speaks to the bridegroom in today’s Gospel. While they were addressed on that day in history to the man who had gotten married, we can also understand them as being addressed to Jesus, the Bridegroom. They are words of surprise and confusion but also words of delight. Jesus has a way of evoking these responses in all who truly encounter Him. We come to Him filled with our own understanding and expectations. We have ideas about what we want Him to do or what He should do, and often, He defies those preconceived notions. He does something new. He does something confusing, challenging even. Yet, in the end, He does something better than we expected.
As St. Paul enumerates so eloquently in his first letter to the Corinthians, there are many gifts the Lord wants to give us in this life, but He gives them how and to whom He wills. We should be prepared to be surprised and even challenged by their appearance, but we should always be delighted.
Ultimately, there is one gift that Jesus wants to give to every one of His people, and this might be the biggest surprise of them all. As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, He rejoices over us. God’s own joy… Is there any sweeter wine than that?
Megan Silas is a Lay Passionist at Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.
Scripture: Ezekiel 18:21-28 Matthew 5:20-26 Reflection: The season of Lent takes us on a journey. This unique period of travel ends in Holy Week with the great Triduum celebration and » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Matthew 7:7-12 Reflection: There are many needs in our lives and some of the deepest reside in the human heart. These are profoundly significant and » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 11:29-32 Reflection: The word “repent” has had its share of comedic renderings over the years. We’ve seen stern-faced clerics or rigidly judgmental church-goers get skewered, even » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 55:10-11 Matthew 6:7-15 Reflection: The Lord’s Prayer has a way of triggering a memory in me. One evening a long time ago – I was about four years » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 Matthew 25:31-46 Reflection: If we are looking for the source of Jesus’s teaching we need to look no further than in chapters 17-26 of the book » Continue Reading.
First Sunday of Lent Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13 Reflection: Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert… » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 58:9b-14 Luke 5:27-32 Reflection: Our journey with our Creator always begins with a personal invitation, even if we have been practicing our faith tradition from birth, at some » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9a Matthew 9:14-15 Reflection: In the Spirit of today’s Gospel reflection with regards to Jesus’ explanation as to why his disciples do not fast, it struck me that » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Luke 9:22-25 Reflection: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” What is the one thing we have in great abundance that God wants? Indeed, » Continue Reading.
Ash Wednesday Scripture: Joel 2:12-18 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Reflection: It is a human desire to want meaning in our lives and our deaths. We want to make » Continue Reading.