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: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 Mark 7:1-13 Reflection: A Mardi Gras that Celebrates Mary’s Protection Mardi Gras! Rio and New Orleans will be featured in the news as crowds » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Kings, 8: 1-7, 9-13 Mark 6:53-56 Reflection: I am a visual person so when I read scripture, I like to picture what is being described. Thus in today’s » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 Reflection: My days are filled with people giving me advice, some of it good and some not so good. “Buy this » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Kings 3:4-13 Mark 6:30-34 Reflection: No one and nothing prepares you to be a parent. The amount of love that comes pouring out of your heart when you » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Sirach 47:2-11 Mark 6:14-29 Reflection: “The LORD forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever.” “The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 Mark 6:7-13 Reflection: A Disciple’s Love As Jesus gathered the Apostles together and sent them out to preach and heal, they must have been » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 Mark 6:1-6 Reflection: “I made my sin known to you, did not conceal my guilt. I said, ‘I shall confess my offence to Yahweh.’ And » Continue Reading.
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32 Reflection: On today’s feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, we have » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 Mark 5:1-20 Reflection: The readings for this day are dominated by one of the longest and most powerful stories in the gospels, namely the healing » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 Luke 4:21-30 Reflection: Do you ever wonder what Jesus was like as a kid? I do. I wonder if he walked around in » Continue Reading.