Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

January 17, 2010 - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the Wedding

Readings:
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96:1-3, 7-10
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-12 (see also “’On the Hour’”)

Think of these first weeks after Christmas as a season of “epiphanies.” The Liturgy is showing us Who Jesus is and what He has revealed about our relationship with God.

Last week and the week before, the imagery was royal and filial - Jesus is the newborn king of the Jews who makes us co-heirs of Israel’s promise, beloved children of God. Last week in the Liturgy we went to a Baptism.

This week we’re at a wedding.

We’re being shown another dimension of our relationship with God. If we’re sons and daughters of God, it’s because we’ve married into the family.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible begins and ends with a wedding - Adam and Eve’s in the garden and the marriage supper of the Lamb (compare Genesis 2:23-24 and Revelation 19:9; 21:9; 22:17)?

Throughout the Bible, marriage is the symbol of the covenant relationship God desires with His chosen people. He is the Groom, humanity His beloved and sought-after bride. We see this reflected beautifully in today’s First Reading.

When Israel breaks the covenant she is compared to an unfaithful spouse (see Jeremiah 2:20-36; 3:1-13). But God promises to take her back, to “espouse” her to Him forever in an everlasting covenant (see Hosea 2:18-22).

That’s why in today’s Gospel, Jesus performs His first public “sign” at a wedding feast.

Jesus is the divine Bridegroom (see John 3:29), calling us to His royal wedding feast (see Matthew 22:1-14). By His New Covenant, He will become “one flesh” with all humanity in the Church (see Ephesians 5:21-33). By our Baptism, each of us has been betrothed to Christ as a bride to a Husband (see 2 Corinthians 11:2).

The new wine that Jesus pours out at today’s feast is the gift of the Holy Spirit given to His bride and body, as today’s Epistle says. This is the “salvation” announced to the “families of nations” in today’s Psalm.

On “The Hour”

“The Hour” of Jesus is a key theme in the Gospel for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Indeed, it’s a key theme in the entire Gospel of John.

Literally, “The Hour” of Jesus is the time of His crucifixion, His self-offering on the cross.

But there is also a “spiritual” way to read the passages that refer to Jesus’ hour - a way of reading that reveals how “The Hour” of Jesus continues in the Mass:

Jesus says that the hour is coming when we’ll worship in a new way - in Spirit and in truth (see John 4:23-24). We’ll gather in that hour as “Greeks” and “Jews” to celebrate a new Passover feast, He says (see John 4:23; 12:20-23).

In that hour, the dead will hear His voice and have life by His Word (see John 5:24-25). And in that hour we will receive miraculous, new wine (see John 2:9-10) and the “fruit” of the grain of wheat sown in the ground (see John 12:13-24).

We have here, in the description of Jesus’ “hour,” a picture of the Mass. The Mass is a spiritual worship in which we join the choirs of angels in heaven. It’s a living remembrance of His last Passover supper in which we who were once dead in sin hear His Word in Scripture, and receive living bread and new wine.

When His hour finally came, “blood and water” flowed from His side (see John 19:34). It was a final sign that His “hour” continues in the Sacraments of the Church, especially in Baptism and the Eucharist. Every time we celebrate the sacred mysteries, we enter into “The Hour” of Jesus which is signified and made present in the Liturgy (see Catechism, nos. 1165, 1225).

For more on “The Hour,” see Chapter 9 of Scott Hahn’s Scripture Matters: Essays in Reading the Bible From the Heart of the Church.

While you were sleeping...ADDED: Links

Once again, under cover of darkness, another deal has been struck. Labor Unions got a bribe, excuse me, deal that will secure their vote for Obamacare.

Now that you've had your coffee and your eyes are opened, take a looksee...

Politico
Huffington Post
Newsmax
Wall Street Journal

Guess who'll be picking up the slack...you and me. Another deal done in darkness sheds much light on this administration.

Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them. (NIV)

UPDATE:
Some more links for your perusal.

From Peggy Noonan:

The real story is that his rhetorical and iconic detachment are harped on because they reflect a deeper disconnect, the truly problematic one, and that is over policy. It doesn't really matter how he sounds. It matters, in a time of crisis, what he does. That's where the lack of connection comes in. more...

From Karl Rove:

Americans learned last year that President Obama discards campaign promises like most people discard used Kleenex. Among the pledges he cast aside were reducing the deficit, reining in federal spending, not allowing lobbyists to work in his administration, increasing taxes only on those who make more than $250,000, and opposing "government-run health care" because it is "extreme." more...

What's he up to now?

While the media and talking heads were worrying about Harry Reid and his negro comment, President Obama was quietly signing yet another executive order.

This one to establish a Council of Governors.

When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.

I am in the midst of researching this and it's not very easy to find info on it. What does it mean for America? For our military forces? Why do this without letting the American people know?

Why does this administration wag the dog? I don't want to inspire any "conspiracy" theories, but come on? What's going on in that White House? If it looks like a fish, smells like one..well, it just might be one and the American People are going to find out too late.

Have you heard of it? I need some great thinkers out there to help explain this one.

March For Life 2010

Any bloggers out there heading to the March For Life in Washington D.C. this year? We'll be there..praying for warm weather and lots and lots of people. Last year I was able to meet one blogger up there and it was a lot of fun! We should make a banner..bloggers for life!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

It's ccccccccold!

Playin' The Game...

From Sarah Kala...let's play!

One Word Comment

Leave a ONE word comment that you think best describes me. It can only be one word. No more than one word. Then copy & paste this post on your blog so I can leave a word about you.

I am sick and tired...

of the current news. I don't know about you, but it is so dark and down and depressing. I am one who usually watches the news (fox, cnn, nbc, abc, cbs) and reads all the "online papers" (wsj, nyt,) and keeps up with current political blogs and websites. I do this because I want to be informed. Lately, however, I don't want to be informed. I don't want to hear it anymore. All I hear and see are lies, infidelities, murders and crap crap crap. Ugh. I can't even make sense of the political junk that's been going on. It's so disappointing. I am truly sickened by the state of affairs of our government. It's disgusting. As an American I demand much better than this. I demand a President and a Congress that takes things seriously, that cares much more about it's citizens than does this current parcel of idiots.

We can't even get our President to wear a dern tie (I know it sounds trivial, but it matters!). For goodness sake, they've made him into a Chia pet. Ugh.

Our "leaders" in Congress are so bold as to tell us to our faces that they don't give a crap what we think and we are expected to take it. It's just ridiculous. I certainly hope that a better kind of people step up to the plate this November. I will vote. That's the kind of "change" we need. Professionals. People who know what they are doing and do it well. Not pandering jokesters who are drunk with their own power and recklessly plow through the Constitution without a cop in sight.

Your thoughts?