“Seeking the intercession of our Queen-Mother Mary and being
obedient to the commandments of the Lord!”

(Based on 1 Jn 5:14-21 and Jn 2:1-11 – Christmas Weekday)

A man who had abandoned Christian practices came across a young boy who was polishing
shoes on the street.

As the boy kept shining the shoes, the man noticed that there was a
shining medal dancing around the neck of the boy.

With a sense of disdain, the man asked the boy, “What’s that hardware around your neck?”

“It’s a medal of Blessed Mother,” said the boy.

“Why her medal?” retorted the man (who had forsaken his Christian way of life)
“She is no different from your mother!”

The boy looked up at the man…
… smiled, as he continued to polish the shoes as he said, “But remember that there is a real big
difference between Her Son and me!”

The man understood the tremendous faith and confidence of the boy in the Blessed Mother.

The story goes on to say that this incident helped the man to re-discover his Catholic Faith.

Mary is special because Her Son Jesus is special!

The greatness of Her Motherhood arises from the greatness of Her Son’s Divine Sonship.

And it is this privilege of being the Mother of Jesus…
… that makes Her a powerful intercessor of God’s Grace!

The Gospel of the Day presents this powerful intercessory role of our Blessed Mother, in the
Wedding at Cana.

The Wedding at Cana is the first of the “signs” that is reported in the Gospel of St John.

Weddings were probably the high point of the Jewish social life.

It was a time when there would be an abundance of celebration, extravagance of merriment
and lavishness of fun.

Weddings were some of the very few occasions when the common, working-class people
could take time off to celebrate and enjoy themselves.

As a result, most weddings would include five to seven days of festivities.

Wine was an integral part of this important social custom.

Therefore when the Gospel says, “they ran short of wine”…
… it was a moment of immense embarrassment for the family.
… it was a time of utter shame and humiliation for the hosts

But in this time of crisis and trouble, Mother Mary realised the potential disaster.

She took the initiative to do something about it – to help avoid the great embarrassment that would have crashed upon the family

How often do we face such situations of “the wine running short” in our life!

The “wine”….
… of unity and fellowship, often, “runs short” in our family life….
… of holiness and sanctity, often, “runs short” in our spiritual life….
… of faith and perseverance, often, “runs short” in our prayer life….
… of sensitiveness and responsiveness, often, “runs short” in our social life….
… of joy and commitment, often, “runs short” in our religious and priestly life….

In all such occasions of “the wine running short”, Blessed Mother Mary is our intercessor to
help us receive the “abundance of the best wine” from Jesus.

But…

Have we invited Mother Mary in our life?
Have we given Her a place in our life?

She will take us to the Lord and help receive His blessings and graces!

Therefore, we also ought to follow Her words, “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2: 5)

Mother Mary not only helps us receive blessings from the Lord…
… She also directs us towards Him and exhorts us to follow Him closer!

Mother Mary not only takes our petitions, by Her intercessions to the Lord…
… She also shows us the way to Him and urges us to live a life of obedience to Him!

On tasting the water that was changed to wine, the headwaiter said:
“Everyone serves good wine first and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one.
But you have kept the good wine, until now” (Jn 2: 10)

Yes, there are often situations, when “we run short of wine” in our lives. But, in all such
moments of worry, despair and trouble, Mother Mary takes us closer to Jesus…
… Who longs to provide us with the “best wine” – the wine of true joy and eternal salvation!

She is special because Her Son Jesus is special!

And it is this privilege of being the Mother of Jesus…
… that makes Her a powerful intercessor of God’s Grace!

Are we ready to feast, by seeking the intercession of our Queen-Mother Mary and being
obedient to the commandments of the Lord?

The best wine is waiting… !

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

The sacrament of Penance can also take place in the framework of a communal celebration in which we prepare ourselves together for confession and give thanks together for the forgiveness received.
Here, the personal confession of sins and individual absolution are inserted into a liturgy of the word of God with readings and a homily, an examination of conscience conducted in common, a communal request for forgiveness, the Our Father and a thanksgiving in common.
This communal celebration expresses more clearly the ecclesial character of penance.

However, regardless of its manner of celebration the sacrament of Penance is always, by its very nature, a liturgical action, and therefore an ecclesial and public action. (CCC # 1482)