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January 19th, 2025 | The 23rd Times

By January 17, 2025No Comments

A Message from Fr. Jay

Dear Friends,

Last week we concluded Christmastime with the celebration of the foundational experience of Jesus, the Baptism of our Lord, and this week we start Ordinary Time with another foundational experience to most of us, Marriage. Both Baptism and Marriage are in fact foundational Sacraments of our faith life.

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus gave the ‘good wine’ with His miracle. There is another miracle happening simultaneously by bringing the peripheries to the center. It is surprising to see the choices of the tools He used! It was not the best Cherrywood or Oak barrels or fine pottery He looked for. Instead, He asked for the 30 gallons of big stone jars meant for cleansing, which is like filling bathtubs in your house for drinking. The water in unhygienic jars becomes delicious wine. He interacts not only with the bride and groom, but with ordinary workers and waiters. They too, obeyed the order of Jesus generously, filling them to the brim. Concerns of the poor and lowly, both spiritual and temporal, are considered grounds for miracles. The words of Mother Mary and her son Jesus are deeper in meaning:

“They have no wine”- is not a complaint but a prayer.

“My hour has not yet come”- is not a rejection but requesting patience for revelation.

“Do whatever He tells you”- is Mother Mary’s FIAT (In Latin, the word fiat means “let it be done.” Mary’s fiat was an immediate acceptance of and consent to God’s will for her life.)

When I compare the number of baptisms, weddings and funerals at our parish, they are few far and wide. The number of weddings is not as encouraging as they were in prior years. We may painfully see sometimes that many young couples prefer either living in civil union or living together. I am sure they missed the “good wine” prepared by Jesus himself! Let us talk to our Blessed Mother and she will take care of it.

This year being Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, our Church has been chosen as (one of five) Jubilee Pilgrimage sites by Bishop Dewane. It is an honor to our parish and a great opportunity to share the grace with all the pilgrims visiting our Church. More information will be coming soon.

Next Sunday, January 26th at the 11:15am Mass, Bishop Frank J. Dewane will be installing me as Pastor of St. John XXIII. I ask for all your prayers and blessings!

God Bless,

Fr. Jay Raju

  • Reading 1: Isaiah 62:1-5
  • Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
  • Gospel: John 2:1-11