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Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born…and the day you know why.”
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Though Jesus already knows why he was born, today he begins sharing that reason with others.
Imagine being at that wedding, watching Jesus turn six stone jars, about 150 gallons, full of water into wine. That must have made him quite popular!
I can only imagine how many future brides and grooms were adding him to their guest list.
While this new – and superior – stock of wine won the crowds that night, this was a much bigger deal for Jesus.
The cat is out of the bag, so to speak.
From this day forward, he will no longer be known as just a young man from Nazareth; he’ll be talked about as a miracle worker and, eventually, the Son of God.
As it says in the Gospel, “the disciples began to believe in him.”
But there’s a really long road ahead for Jesus.
Over the next three years, the final one-thousand days of his life, Jesus will reveal to the world why he was born – to bring joy, hope, and, above all, eternal life to anyone who believes.
The wedding at Cana is just the beginning.
Stay tuned.
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“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born…and the day you know why.”
Like Jesus, there is a reason why we were born. God has a purpose for our lives, which we often discover gradually, over years of prayer and experience.
Perhaps the best way to find that purpose is to follow our hearts, trusting that the Lord uses our talents, our dreams, and our desires to lead us forward.
For many of us, that purpose is found in the context of marriage and family.
My mother, for example, often told me that her deepest desire in life was to be a mom. Perhaps many of you feel the same – you’re deepest desire is to be a mom, a dad, a spouse.
Others may be pulled towards priesthood, religious life, or another form of service.
Regardless, there is a purpose for our lives, a reason for each day.
Have we discovered our divine purpose? Or are we still searching?
And if we have, how faithful are we to that call?
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Just as God has a purpose for our lives so he has one for our spouse, our children, our grandchildren, and our friends.
The Gospel invites us to support them in their discernment, too.
Just look at Mary.
She is the only other person on earth who knows why Jesus is here. Before he performs that miracle at Cana, she already has faith in him as the Son of God.
“They have no wine,” she says. Mary urges Jesus to reveal his power, to perform a miracle and begin his ministry.
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But keep in mind, once he does this, Mary’s world will be turned upside down. Jesus will no longer be found at safely home with her, laughing at the dinner table or doing the dishes afterwards.
Rather, he’ll be journeying throughout the region healing the sick, casting out demons, and challenging the religious authorities of his day by speaking of mercy and forgiveness.
Mary knows this journey will be dangerous, but she knows it’s the reason why Jesus was born. In fact, so much of her own purpose is caught up in him.
So with these four simple words – they have no wine – Mary gives Jesus her blessing.
As difficult as it may be, she’s ready to let go and share her son with the world.
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How supportive are we of others, in particular of our children? Do we try to create their futures for them?
Or, like Mary and Jesus, do we allow them the freedom to follow their hearts and discover their mission from God?
Mary reminds us today that supporting our children may not always be easy. But they’ll only be happy if they follow their heart.
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“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born…and the day you know why.”
May Jesus, who followed his heart throughout his life – always with the love and support of his mother – lead us forward on our journeys. Amen.
