Can You See Your Miracles?

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken, “
or your land “Desolate, “
but you shall be called “My Delight, “
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

R. (3) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

Gospel: John 2:1-11

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.

jan 17

I don't have an exciting testimony. I was brought up Catholic, never really "lost" my faith; somehow my faith has just grown slowly over time. It doesn't mean that I don't have an interesting story, but simply that my story doesn't look like an action movie but more a meandering novel.

I bring this up because I don't think I've had this concrete experience with a brilliant and drastic "miracle" taking place in my midst like in today's Gospel. I don't have exact moments or memories where I instantly recognize the impossible and dramatic movements of God in my life. But then again, I know that He's been at work in my life in small, tender ways that gently have shown me His presence and will, His love and forgiveness.

Today's Gospel reading is a pivotal reading not just from the aspect of us reading about it some 2000 years later in light of Biblical and Church history, but it was a pivotal moment in the life of Christ. This is Christ's first public miracle, the first time He steps in to our everyday human life that has a lot of things come up short, and miraculously fills our needs out of something very simple: from water.

This Gospel is so big and important that sometimes I wonder if I can compare it to my own life.

It's so hard for those of us living simple, ordinary lives where there is no dramatic miracle moment to recognize God working miracles in our lives. But that doesn't change the fact that He is. He is working miracles in our lives even if we don't see them, even if they take years to accomplish.

The miracle may be our spouse. The miracle may be our child. The miracle may be physical or emotional healing. The miracle may God accepting our small prayers during the sacrifice of His son during the Mass and the saving of a unknown soul halfway around the world.

God is working miracles in our lives even when it's hard to see.Click to tweet