fr. boniface endorf, o.p. · 2019-01-20 · he who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of...
TRANSCRIPT
A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR Dear St. Joseph Parish Family, This Sunday's Gospel recounts the wedding feast at Cana, where Jesus performed His first public
miracle– turning water into wine. The symbolism is rich, and that's why the Wedding Feast at Cana is one
of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. It was no accident that Jesus chose a wedding at which to perform
His first miracle. Here's a short reflection on Cana:
Jesus begins His ministry with a wedding feast and ends it with the Passover feast. Is there any connection
between the two? The Catechism tells us that the wedding of Cana “is the sign of another feast—that of the wedding
of the Lamb where he gives his body and blood at the request of the Church, his Bride” (no. 2618). In Revelation, the
last book of the Bible (also written by John), the great Eucharistic banquet of the Mass is described as a wedding
feast: “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made
herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). Jesus is the Lamb throughout the Book of Revelation; the Bride is the Church. Then the
angel tells Saint John, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9).
These same words are proclaimed in Mass, right before the priest and people receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Every
time we go to Mass, we are participating in the Last Supper, which is the great wedding feast of Jesus and His Church.
The wedding of Cana points toward this greater reality of the wedding feast of the Lamb.
If you read closely the passage of the wedding feast at Cana, you will notice that the couple’s names are not
mentioned. John omitted them under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Saint Augustine once commented that the
names of the couple were withheld in order to symbolize the marriage between Christ and the Church. It is indeed
no coincidence that Jesus, at the start of His ministry, chooses to manifest Himself at a wedding. Marriage is the start
of a new, shared life and a new beginning. By performing His first miracle at the start of this couple’s new life
together, Jesus reveals the great intimacy that God desires to have with all His people. The love between God and His
people is like the love between a bridegroom and his bride.
John the Baptist saw himself as a key figure in the divine romance between Christ and the Church. In the chapter
after the wedding of Cana, John says, “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been
sent before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full” (Jn. 3:28–29). John sees himself as
the friend of the bridegroom, Jesus. At the wedding feast, Jesus brings to light His desire for the new beginning and
the new intimacy that He plans to bring to the people of God. Jesus, as the Divine Suitor, woos the hearts of His people.
In Christ,
Fr. Boniface Endorf, O.P. Fr. Boniface Endorf, O.P.
Pastor
1 Gray, T. (2004). The Luminous Mysteries: Biblical Reflections on the Life of Christ (pp. 39–40). Steubenville, OH: Emmaus
Road Publishing.
January 12th & 13th MASSES TOTAL--------------------------$10,217 WeShare ------------------------------------$ 450 Faith Street---------------------------------$ 3,495 GRAND TOTAL---------------------------$14,162
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for:
Lawrence J. Capici
“Peggy” Mary Milus Charles Mark Vazzana
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SATURDAY JANUARY 19
12:10 pm 5:30 pm Mary Geraldine Johnson
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 9:00 am Dominic & Angela Conetta 11:30 am Mary & Angelo Pavesi 6:00 pm People of the Parish
MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Saint Agnes, Virgin & Martyr 12:10 pm
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
12:10 pm Nicholas Russo
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr Saint Marianne Cope, Virgin
12:10 pm
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 12:10 pm
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
12:10 pm
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HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
The Rectory Office will be closed on Monday, January 21st in observance of Martin Luther King Day The Catholic Center will be closed from Thursday, January 17- Monday, January 21st. Normal mass time and schedule will resume on Tuesday, January 22nd.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PROGRAM
Eliza Poehlman, Director, welcomes all who desire to serve in the Contemporary Music Program. No auditions required. Join us in the sanctuary for rehearsal at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings before the 6:00 p.m. Mass. If you have any questions please E-mail me at: [email protected].
PRAYER VIGIL FOR LIFE
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
(46th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade)
For New Yorkers with the
Sisters of Life & Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
6:30PM - Holy Hour led by Br. Malachy, CFR & Franciscan
Friars of the Renewal
7:30PM - Holy Mass with Fr. Richard Veras of Magnificat
publication, homilist
It is important more than ever to gather in prayer on this
Anniversary in this year as the NY Legislature has promised that
the Reproductive Health Act will become law in the state of NY
on January 22, 2019, making late term abortion legal in NY,
among many other sorrowful provisions.
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY READINGS
First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 Isaiah prophesizes that Jerusalem will again be held in high esteem by God. He states that all nations will witness its glory. He compares a groom's joy toward his bride to the joy that God will feel toward Jerusalem.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Paul discusses the different gifts and talents bestowed upon different individuals. He explains that each individual receives various talents so that everyone can contribute something to society.
Gospel: John 2:1-11 Jesus and Mary attended a wedding where Mary informed Jesus that there was no more wine. At first he said it did not concern him, but then he turned several jugs of water into wine. His disciples were also present, and believed in him more strongly after they witnessed the first sign of glory he revealed to them.
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME DAILY READINGS
Sunday Is 62:1-5; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11
Monday Heb 5:1-10; Mk 2:18-22
Tuesday Lectionary for Ritual Masses, vol. IV
“Mass for Peace & Justice”, nos. 887-891
Wednesday Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Mk 3:1-6
Thursday Heb 7:25—8:6; Mk 3:7-12
Friday Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22; Mk 16:15-18
Saturday 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5; Mk 3:20-21
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS
HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 20, 2019
“There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding…the mother of Jesus told him ‘they have no wine.’ His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’…and his disciples began to believe in him.”
It is easy to remember the first miracle as told by John. Like all weddings there was an invitation, and they were present. A near crisis caused Mary to intervene. She directed the difficult moment to be converted into a miracle, instructing the waiters what to do. Using what was at hand, water and jars enabled Jesus to transform the situation. The result was a newfound belief for those who accompanied Him to the wedding.
We too are invited to be with Jesus at the Eucharistic banquet. Jesus directs us ‘do this in memory of me’ and our own faith is strengthened and renewed by His presence. Mary knows the crises in our lives, of family, injustice, illness. Although the words spoken by Mary in the scriptures are the last we read, she too speaks to us ‘do whatever he tells you.’ Her presence and intervention or intercession in our behalf still has meaning ‘pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.’