What Is That To You Or Me

  Reflection on Today's Readings, 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, January 16th, 2022
Texts: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96:1--3, 7-10; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; John 2 :1-11
In today's gospel reading, Jesus asks His mother, "What is that to you or me?" Put differently, "how does this concern you?" Or "what does it mean to you?" There is no record that Mary answered this question. Why she did not answer, we do not know. Perhaps, she thought Jesus should know or that the answer was glaring. Perhaps, it was a rhetorical question; she did not need to answer. However, one thing is certain: she knew the person. She must have been the person's acquaintance or else she would have not been invited. Jesus must have known the person, too, for He was invited. Yet Jesus Christ could not understand why Mary was trying to help. Why did Jesus not consider acquaintance a good reason to help without being approached to do so? The reading is silent about it. The focus of the text was how Jesus Christ revealed His glory for the first time and the role played by Mary.
Mary must have been a person who feels compelled to help those who are in need. Such person could easily empathise with people. They do not like things going wrong where they are; they are quick to help. They do not wait to be approached to make things right. We have many people like that among us; we do not need to ask them for help before they offer help; there are ever ready to help. Among us too there are some people we need to approach for help before they could help. There are some people we need to push before they help.  We also have some people who are not willing to help, no matter what. We need to ask ourselves, today: "Which group do I belong? Am I like Mary?"
Have you ever thought of a time that things just worked for you without putting effort? Have you ever thought that it could have been the result of someone's effort? I am sure that the couple in today's gospel reading did not know that someone saved the day for them. Many a time we attained success, it was because someone thought that it was his responsibility to see to our success. There are some people whom we do not know and we may not know who have saved the day for us. Mary is a testimony that such people exist and that we have benefited from their kindness. We are also called to be helpers to one another. We do not need to be asked to do something that is good. "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8) and do them without being asked to do so.
St. Paul, in today's second reading, reveals why we do not need to be asked before we do good things. He says, "There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." First, we are to render help because it is the manifestation of the gift of the Spirit. This is clear in today's first reading as God says, "For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until her vindication goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch." Whoever has the Spirit of God in him or her will not be silent or rest until things are right. Working to make things right is the manifestation of God's Spirit in us. If we have the gift of healing we should use it when there is need for it. If we have the gift of wisdom, we should use it when there is need for it. Second, the reason for rendering service to others is because it is also a service to the Lord. Jesus Christ, Himself, says, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Mtt. 25:40). We should always know that our service to others is a service to the Lord. Third, doing good is also our concern because God has inspired it in us. We are to do whatever God inspires in us. Fourth, we are to do good because it is for common good. We now understand what the failure of wine at the wedding is to Mary. For it was an opportunity to manifest the gift of the Spirit, it was a service to her Lord, God inspired it in her to help the couple, and it was for general good.

Almighty ever-living God, You who love us and promise not to be silent or rest until we are vindicated and show forth Your image in us, help us to be eager to help others. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke