Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament 2023

Title

Serving the Wine

Outline

What does a Church do?

Well, in Acts chapter 2 they are doing about the same as in Acts chapter 1, but with the addition of missional outreach.

That is “they held steadfastly to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” The “they” was the apostles, the women including Mary the Mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ relatives - the whole band who had followed Jesus to Jerusalem - notice specifically the presence of Mary and “the women” for this was not the case in typical Jewish groups.

There was teaching with the apostles repeating the teaching of Jesus and pointing to where he fulfilled the scriptures. There was “fellowship” or “sharing” (koinonia) that is expanded later in the passage. It was not a one-time divestiture of goods, but an ongoing selling and sharing as there was need (the very is imperfect), there was Eucharist, i.e. “breaking of the bread,” and prayers, later defined as the three times daily Temple prayers. And that is what is present in the Mass today.

Mary anticipated this in John chapter 2

There is a family wedding in Cana and she serves as a senior member of the family. Jesus is her son, part of the family, and so his disciples are invited as well.

Mary sees a need and, as disciples would do later, she shares it with Jesus: “They have no wine.”

Jesus immediately sees the meaning behind the current need: “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Yes, there is a need for wine. It is the wine of my blood, and I will indeed share, but that time is not yet. This affair has nothing to do with that ultimate sharing.

Mary says what she always says, “Do whatever he tells you.” She always points to Jesus, she always calls for obedience. That is how this Order came into existence.

And so we get the picture of the water of purification, a baptismal image, becoming the wine of the Eucharist when it is poured out (likely still looking like water) and taken to the “head honcho” (steward is a bit weak), i.e. offered to God.

The poor groom does not know what happened, for he had eyes for the bride alone, but the slaves knew, as the slaves of Jesus often know if they act in obedience.

And it was good wine, indeed better wine than they knew, for it was a pre-sacrament of the blood of Christ and no wine could be better. So it manifests the glory of God and the disciples, those who followed him, the future apostles, saw and it became part of their teaching.

Gathering, sharing lives and Jesus shared his life, glorifying God with better than Psalms, in a context of a meal, a breaking of bread, and right in the middle there is Mary, tell them and us, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Sisters, that is our way of life

“Do whatever he tells you.” But it will not mean just drawing water and pouring wine, it will mean pouring out our lives as Jesus poured out his life. It will mean seeing deeper than the immediate need and serving ultimate needs. It will mean the prayers and the sharing and also, since Pentecost, mission.

And Jesus will still be in the center, the revelation of God, pouring out his blood as wine, and Mary will still be serving humble but definitively, bringing our needs to him and telling us, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Readings

Epistle

Acts 1:14 RSV2CE

14 All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 2:42–47 RSV2CE

42 And they held steadfastly to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Psalm

Acclamation: Ps 34:9 “9 O fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!”

Psalm: Ps 34:2-7

Psalm 34:2–7 RSV2CE

2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Gospel:

Acclamation: Jn 2:3 “3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”” Jn 2:5 “5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.””

Gospel: John 2:1-11

John 2:1–11 RSV2CE

1 On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Notes

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

(Feast of the Dominican Order)

Epistle Acts 1:14, 2:42-47

Psalm Ps 34:9a (response)

Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Gospel Acclamation John 2:3b, 5

Gospel John 2:1-11

BLUE on White