Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

     We have often maintained that there is a stewardship message in every reading from Holy Scripture. Today’s readings are no exception, from the reminder that “God rejoices in each of us” to “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians to the Gospel story about the miracle at the wedding in Cana as reported in John.

     Although each of those messages is worthy of our thought, meditation, and reflection, we would like to focus on a particular line in St. John’s Gospel, a statement which literally says it all about stewardship as a way of life. Our Blessed Mother Mary says quite simply, “Do whatever He tells you.” Her message for those gathered at the wedding and her message for us is the same.

     The whole purpose of our lives is to seek and ascertain what it is that the Lord is telling us. We all understand that is not easy, and for many of us becomes a lifelong quest. Yet, that is exactly what Mary says to us, and it is exactly what we need to do. Through prayer and discernment each of us must try to discover what the Lord is “telling” us. That requires prayer on our part; it means we have to listen more than speak; and it means we need to identify, recognize, and use our gifts.