| Homily
for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: January 14,
2007
Given by the Most
Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation
in Stockton.
In my years as a priest I have had the pleasure
of presiding over many marriage ceremonies. Even though all
the marriages did not turn out to be happy ones, on the day
of the marriage the bride and groom generally seemed to be
deeply in love with each other. The marriage celebrations
were festive just as was the wedding feast at Cana. It was
at a wedding reception that Jesus first manifested his glory
as coming from God and his disciples began to believe in him.
After Christmas the Church celebrates three
events in the life of Jesus which tell us about Him and make
Him known to the world. On the Epiphany the visit of the magi
announce that Jesus has come for all peoples of the world.
On the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, as He comes out of the
waters God announces that this is His beloved Son. And today
from the gospel of the wedding feast of Cana, the Church develops
the idea that Jesus is the bridegroom and we are the bride.
That’s how close our relationship is with Jesus. God’s
love for us is incredibly passionate. Isaiah the great prophet
of the Old Testament had already taught this when he wrote:
“As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your
God rejoice in you.”
If you love someone, you love to give them gifts.
The same is true with God. There are many different spiritual
gifts that God gives to us, but the same Holy Spirit, the
same God the Father, and the same Lord Jesus Christ. One God
but many different gifts for us. Maybe God has given you the
ability to see clearly what is the right thing to do; maybe
God has blessed you with the gift of being a very friendly
and understanding person; perhaps God has given you a very
charitable and compassionate heart; maybe God wants you to
devote your life in some kind of service profession such as
a social worker or nurse or advocate for the poor; maybe God
has given you the gift to be a priest or religious sister;
maybe your gift is to be a devoted husband or wife or a good
parent. You have a spiritual gift from God because everyone
does. And God gives you this gift not just for yourself but
for the benefit of others. God wants you to become all that
you are meant to be in this life, to be fully human, but to
do so as a person for others.
During my years as a high school principal we
had a very strong Christian service program. The kids used
to go next door to the senior citizen home and read to the
residents and hold their hands. These old people who always
were cold loved to hold the warm hands of the kids. The kids
were a gift to them.
Today in the sacrament of Confirmation,
you receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, God’s great
gift of Himself to you. The Holy Spirit will strengthen you
to be faithful to Christ in all you do. The Holy Spirit will
enable you to share your spiritual gifts with others. As a
Christian baptized into the Lord Jesus and confirmed in the
Holy Spirit you are loved by God; you belong to God and you
are a person for others.
Last Update February 28, 2007
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