Dear Parishioners,

The context of the gospel reading today revolves around a wedding celebration. Jesus, Mary and the disciples are at the feast.  Jesus’ public ministry has not yet begun; however, we see Mary stepping in to assist when they are out of wine and she instructs the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”  In fact, it is Mary who initiates His first miracle, and it was Jesus who followed his mother’s prompting as a faithful son.

The first miracle revealed His glory and the disciples believed in Him. How wonderful that this first miracle took place at a wedding celebration. We can see that God places a great deal of importance on a marriage between a man and a woman. In Genesis Chapter 2 verse 18 we read, “it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” Then it goes on, “that is why a man leaves his mother and father and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.”

A husband and wife are joined together in marriage to live their covenant relationship faithfully. This begins of their journey to truly becoming one.  

1 Corinthians 13 verses 4-7 reads, “Love is patient, love is kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  

The vocation of marriage calls the couple to help each other to grow in holiness. This in turn, forms the foundation of a family where the children will grow up in the domestic church.  Their home will be a safe haven to grow in love, to learn God’s ways and His precepts.  It doesn’t mean that there won’t be struggles and difficulties, but there will be graces in times of need. Laughter and joy are present and together husband and wife learn to lean on God and each other, especially through difficult times. 

Today as we reflect on the miracle that Jesus performed at the Wedding in Cana, let us ask the Lord to bless our marriage, giving Him permission to work in those areas where we struggle, so that in our commitment to love, honour and cherish the other, we truly  manifest “the two shall become one.”  

Deacon Mike Seguin