The wonderful counselor is given to us.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
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Commentary on Is 9:1-3, 5-6
Some scholars presume that this oracle of Isaiah was developed as a liturgical piece, used to celebrate the ascension of a king to the throne of Israel. The prophet, however, speaks here of the “ideal or ultimate” king, Emmanuel [Immanuel] (see Isaiah 7:14), not a historical person, but a predicted future king (we of course see the Messiah in hindsight). The symbolism describes freedom from enslavement (the image of a yoked beast of burden is commonly used in this context) as the taskmaster (enslaver) is cast off.
The oracle celebrates this future king and messiah as one who brings wisdom from God and peace for all times. The passage concludes identifying the source or lineage of this Christ as from David’s line and references his promised succession.
CCC: Is 9:5 2305
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B With one heart the disciples continued in steadfast prayer
After Jesus had been taken up into heaven,
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL
John 2:1-11
B With one heart the disciples continued in steadfast prayer
with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
After Jesus had been taken up into heaven,
the apostles returned to Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,
a sabbath day's journey away.
When the apostles entered the city
they went to the upper room where they were staying,
Peter and John and James and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,
James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,
and Judas son of James.
All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,
together with some women,
and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
the apostles were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
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Commentary on Acts 1:12-14
This passage provides part of the introductory comments of St. Luke as he begins the Acts of the Apostles. Like any well-written story, he connects the events that have just taken place in his first volume, the Gospel of Luke, with what will follow. In the first verses Jesus ascended and told them to expect the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this selection the disciples with Mary the Mother of Jesus and his extended family return to Jerusalem and enter the locked room. Important to recognize is the presence not just of the apostles but of Mary, ever faithful to her son.
"Here we see Mary as the spiritual center around which Jesus' intimate friends gather: tradition has meditated on this 'tableau', and found it to depict our Lady's motherhood over the whole Church, both at its beginning and over the course of the centuries."[14]
The selection next takes up the Pentecost. “When the Time for Pentecost was fulfilled” – the word in its Greek form means “fifty” so we understand this phrase to mean fifty days after Christ’s resurrection (Easter). An interesting coincidence is the Jewish Festival of Weeks (Harvest Festival “Shavuoth”) was also called Pentecost. Whether it was taken first by the Christians and later adopted by the Hellenistic Jews we do not know.
Those present (not just the disciples) heard a loud noise like the rushing of the wind. This signified a new action by God. Indeed we see the symbol of the Holy Spirit, a flame, descend upon the Apostles launching them into prayers of ecstasy that were heard by all present in their own language. This event can be interpreted as a representation of the universal mission of the Church to all peoples of all nations.
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. (20a) Blessed are those who meditate on wisdom.
Happy those who meditate on wisdom,
and reflect on knowledge.
R. Blessed are those who meditate on wisdom.
Who ponder her ways in their hearts,
and understand her paths.
R. Blessed are those who meditate on wisdom.
Who peep through her windows,
and listen at her doors;
who encamp near her house,
and fasten their tent pegs next to her walls;
who pitch their tents beside her,
and live as her welcome neighbors.
R. Blessed are those who meditate on wisdom.
Who build their nests in her leafage;
and lodge in her branches;
who takes shelter with her from the heat,
and dwell in her home.
R. Blessed are those who meditate on wisdom.
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Commentary on Sir 14:20,21-22,23-25,26-27
"This poem charts the growing intimacy between those seeking Wisdom and Wisdom herself. They move from static reflection to playful pursuit, from camping outside the walls of her house to nesting inside her leafy shade. Ben Sira portrays Wisdom as both mother and bride, a feminine figure who is the fullness of womanhood according to his androcentric society."[1]
Placed in the context of Marian liturgy, the poem reflects the Christian pursuit of Mary's wisdom and faith. Once attained we join her in faith, directed at her son.
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GOSPEL
The mother of Jesus said to the attendants: Do whatever he tells you.
John 2:1-11
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.
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Commentary on Jn 2:1-11
The author gives us the story of Jesus' first revelatory action following his baptism by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan. Jesus and his disciples are invited to a wedding and the wine runs out. Jesus’ mother lets her son know that the time has come for his revelation, even though Jesus does not think so.
The Greek in the exchange between Jesus and his mother is ambiguous; some would interpret it, ‘What concern is that of mine or yours?’, but it is more probably to be understood as a Hebrew idiom, ‘What have I to do with you?’, that is, ‘Leave me alone, do not interfere with me’, as in Matthew 8.29, and in many passages of the Old Testament. [2]
Significantly the stone water jars were there for the ceremonial cleansing, the very Hebrew custom John the Baptist used in his call to repentance. The Hebrew custom was symbolic (as was St. John's invitation to be baptized in the Jordan); the Lord would later make baptism efficacious as sins were forgiven. We also note the Hebrew numerology applied to this scene. The number six represents one less than the perfect number seven. It was not yet Jesus’ time. The water became wine, not his blood which was yet to be poured out for the salvation of mankind.
The final statement in this story: “his disciples began to believe in him,” is the only time in the Gospel of St. John where there was any doubt about the Lord’s true identity on their part.
Significantly the stone water jars were there for the ceremonial cleansing, the very Hebrew custom John the Baptist used in his call to repentance. The Hebrew custom was symbolic (as was St. John's invitation to be baptized in the Jordan); the Lord would later make baptism efficacious as sins were forgiven. We also note the Hebrew numerology applied to this scene. The number six represents one less than the perfect number seven. It was not yet Jesus’ time. The water became wine, not his blood which was yet to be poured out for the salvation of mankind.
The final statement in this story: “his disciples began to believe in him,” is the only time in the Gospel of St. John where there was any doubt about the Lord’s true identity on their part.
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Reflection:
The Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to be a source of divine guidance, wisdom, and counsel, and her intercessory power is sought for help in making important decisions. Mother of Good Counsel reflects Mary's role as a wise and loving guide, particularly in times of difficulty or uncertainty. The Gospel from St. John reflects this understanding, choosing to use the wedding feast at Cana as the first example of the Blessed Mother's first counsel given to our Lord following his baptism in the Jordan by St. John.
Here Mother Mary recognizes the that the time for Jesus' public revelation is at hand. When she hears that the wine is running out and knowing the embarrassment this will cause the family of the newly joined couple, she counsels her son to act, launching his public ministry which is our road to salvation.
How many times over the years the Mother of God must have taught her growing son, giving him the advice and guidance so necessary for the Son of God to assume his salvific role. Here wisdom is clearly seen in her interaction throughout the Lord's ministry, on which she was a constant companion.
As we celebrate her motherhood and the role she plays in the life of the Church, we are reminded to look for her intercession and counsel seeing in it the love she also has for all of God's children. When we are in dire need of help and, indeed, in the course of our lives on earth, let us not forget that in addition to the gift of the Holy Spirit we also have recourse to the one who guided the Lord to ensure the happiness of the loving couple at Cana.
Pax
[1] See NAB Footnote on Sirach 14:20–15:10.
[2] Knox Bible footnote on Jn 2:4.
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