Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • January 24, 2025 5 MORE THAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS We are Professional Remembrance Planners Explore the many unique ways to honor and celebrate lives. Call or visit Bradford O’Keefe today. BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES Professional. Compassionate. Dignified. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Thank You Holy Trinity, Blessed Mother, Infant of Jesus of Prague, and St. Jude, for intentions granted. PH Opening Reflection: Many of us, either personally or through someone we hold dear, have been touched by life’s untimely setbacks: broken relationships, strained finances, illness, faith struggles, addictions, loss of a loved one. Today’s readings assure that we have a God of second chances to lead, guide, and provide hope for a rebound. Hope: In our first reading, Isaiah addresses people who have turned the corner. Once ripped from family and friends, homeland and places of worship, and exiled to foreign soil by invading forces, they are now home for a new start. It is a blessed and necessary first step, but much work needs to be done. Their lives and land must be rebuilt. It will take courage, faith in their God, and vision to believe a better future is within their grasp. The prophet declares, “No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate, but you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” They are now acknowledged as the bride, desired and loved by the bridegroom. Because they cried out to God, He will make good on His promises by healing scars lingering from past hurts. We do not know how long our misery will last or when healing and rescue will come, but history and the Scriptures tell us that those who humble themselves before the Lord and cry out with sincere worship, faith, and hope will be renewed. Encouragement: Paul reminds us, “God comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble with the same consolation we have received from Him” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Imagine if you and I viewed every trial, sickness, setback, disappointment, or loss not as a heavy burden that brings defeat but as an opportunity to encourage someone else with assurances of God’s presence as they undergo a similar challenge. First, we need an attitude of gratitude that no matter how difficult things are going, God knows about them and can bring about victory from the ashes of our lives. We can choose to continually carry the heaviness of yesterday’s burdens into every subsequent day of our lives, or we can pray, believe, rebound, and work to create a better tomorrow for ourselves and others. A Better Way: The Psalmist offers some practical steps for rebounders. Instead of anger, grumbling, and disbelief, “Proclaim His marvelous deeds to all the nations.” Let a song of praise and worship always be on your lips. “Announce His salvation, day after day” (tirelessly without quitting). Tell someone about the good things the Lord is doing in your life every day. Keep a journal of God’s blessings and review them daily. Gifts of Promise: In today’s second reading, Paul speaks of the spiritual gifts that come with our Confirmation. Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, and discernment. We appropriate God’s gifts by welcoming the Holy Spirit living within and using the gifts to build our faith and minister to others. Tomorrow is a new day for those who desire, expect, believe, and rebound -- a time to join the Holy Spirit in renewing the face of the earth through the gifts of promise. Read the list of gifts and ask the Lord to give you those you need. New Beginnings: Today’s Gospel is about new beginnings -- passing from the old into the new. Through this wedding story of an unnamed couple in a small, insignificant place, John has deeper meanings for His readers to ponder. The wedding feast represents the messianic banquet with Jesus as the bridegroom supplying the wine in abundance (Matthew 26:26- 29). The Lord always gives us everything we need. Jesus changing water into wine signifies the arrival of the new messianic age. Are you embracing Jesus as author and sustainer of the New Covenant and Lord and redeemer of your life? As the mother of the new covenant, Mary is given the problem by the wine steward, “They have no wine.” Mary tells Jesus. Then tells the wine steward, “Do whatever He tells you.” I love that line -- simple but powerful. The solution to all our problems with just five words. Live your life as if Jesus was your Lord, Master, and Redeemer, and let Jesus make all things new. There are no insignificant problems. If your struggles are causing spiritual, emotional, social, or physical anguish, bring them to Jesus and cooperate with Him as He works them out for your good. Perhaps the Lord will use the suffering to perfect you in holiness. The key to all this is that God wants us to live life abundantly (John 10:10) and will always work with us in a way that best accomplishes that goal. Closing Comment: Changing water into wine revealed Jesus’ glory (John 2:11). Will you, by believing more strongly, rebounding more certainly, and becoming a new creation, be Jesus’ next miracle -- able and willing to extend His grace to others? Deacon Ralph Torrelli is retired and lives in Ten- nessee. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 Responsorial Psalm : 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-7, 9-10 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Gospel: John 2:1-11 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time New life Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries