Mary asks for a miracle at Cana.

“The prayer of the rosary is, in many ways, the synthesis of the history of God’s mercy, which becomes a history of salvation for all who let themselves be shaped by grace."  (Pope Francis).

"There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.

"When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”

"His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

"Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”

"So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had ­become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

"Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him." (John 2: 1 - 11).

Saturday January 7th 2023, in the Season of Christmas is the First Saturday in January, 2023. We honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It is also the feast of St Raymond Peñafort.  (1175 - 1275). Spanish Dominican Priest. Raymond was very erudite and he advanced the knowledge of Canon Law. St Raymond was a contemporary of the great St Thomas Aquinas also a Dominican priest. He studied Arabic in order to study the Koran so that he could evangelize the Moslems. St Raymond Penyafort did a great deal to secure the freedom of Christians during the Crusade. He died at the age of 100.

Raymond is known in history for two key contributions: Like the Curé of Ars, he had an extraordinary charism in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Ask Jesus to lead you to such a priest. One confession is all you need to turn around your life. Raymond wrote volumes which are part of the Canon Law.

Our Gospel for today is the popular Wedding at Cana. Why is this narrative of the wedding with great guests as Jesus and Mary and the Apostles so popular? It may be the only fun, picnic like event in the entire Gospel. Wine is not supposed to runout in such a celebration but it did on this occasion. This provided an opportunity for Mary's intervention and the first miracle of Jesus in front of the His brand new Apostles.

The Church from ancient times did not miss the critical lesson.

SCRIPTURE TEACHES
THAT "THE FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS VERY POWERFUL." NOW HOW MUCH MORE THE PRAYER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD?  MARY SAID TO JESUS: "SON, THEY HAVE NO WINE....AND THEN SHE SAID TO THE SERVANTS:  "DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU."

The Church has two ancient maxims to apply to this principle.

#1. Sensus fidelis or the intuitive perception of the truth by a large number of the faithful over a considerable period. The power of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an Intercessor had been perceived by the faithful from the beginning of the Church.

#2. Lex orandi, lex credendi. This means that the law of prayer is the law of faith. When the Church gathers in prayer, what it prays is what it believes. For example:
"Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and the hour of our death." It will be ridiculous if the Church would be praying the Hail Mary for hundreds of years and the prayer is inefectual. The experience of the faithful in every age and worldwide tells them that this prayer is effective.

"I have created you for My love, and My love alone can satisfy the desires of your heart. Enter, then, the wound in My side and, penetrating even into My Heart, drink deeply of the springs of love that will refresh and delight your soul and wash you in preparation for the wedding of your soul with Me, for I am the Bridegroom of your soul, your Saviour from all that would defile you, and your God who is love and mercy now and unto the ages of ages." (IN SINU JESU Thursday, April 15, 2010).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com