Homily for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

A characteristic of John's Gospel is that even ordinary-sounding sentences can carry profound meaning. One such sentence is in today's passage: "They have no wine." In other translations, this line reads, "The wine has run out." Upon deeper reflection, this phrase becomes a powerful symbol.

Today, "the wine has run out" serves as a metaphor indicating enthusiasm and thrill have suddenly lessened. Other phrases convey a similar sentiment, such as "the honeymoon is over," "the bubble has burst," or "the party is over."

This metaphor manifests itself in various ways: the first year in college is great, but about halfway through the first semester, the reality of exams and term papers sets in. A new job is thrilling, but before long, it is filled with long stretches of boredom, and the initial challenge fades. Friendships can be genuine, yet little conflicts can create stress, making things feel different from how they used to be. A marriage might have once been good, but somewhere along the way, the wine ran out. Faith may sustain us when everything is going well, but illness, death, and struggles enter the picture, and the wine runs out once again. Speaking about hope can be easy when supporting someone struggling, but when faced with our own challenges, we may find that the wine has run out.

Even the most hopeful people must wrestle at various points to keep the wine from running out. We must strive to maintain faith, hope, and love in our hearts.

Today's Gospel reminds us that keeping these qualities alive is not something we can do alone. We need the help of Jesus and the support of one another as ambassadors of Christ in the world.

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus is presented with jars of ordinary water, which He transforms into the finest wine. He desires to do the same for us. He wants to take our ordinary lives and make them extraordinary. He aims to invigorate us during times of dullness and indifference and to fill our lives, particularly during struggles, pain, and doubt, with the light and vitality of faith so that we may be filled with God's love and strength.

However, we must take the first step: We must bring our lives to God, just as the servants brought the jars of water to Jesus. We must open our hearts and souls to God's love and power to be transformed and discover that the adage, "the best is yet to come," holds true.