HOMILY – 2^ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH & FURMAN U.

JANUARY 17, 2010 – 8, 10, 12 NOON & 6:30PM

May our Lord give us His peace.

God, Breaks, In.

God. In the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah we see that a big change has happened to the people who haven been slaves, broken, looted, desert bound and barren. The change? God brings glory to His people, He espouses them, causes them to rejoice again. They rebuild the temple, form a government of their own, and return to an age of innocence.

Breaks. In the second reading from the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks about how God has come. There are many differences in the way God shows up, but there is no break in the one Spirit He has given them which is distributed to each of them in a special way. Gifts of healing, deeds, prophecy. One takes care of people, another builds, another rouses the people. Each unique, but a manifestation of the Spirit that does not separate us or rank us above or below another. That’s the breaks.

In. If there is anybody you want in, it’s Jesus. In this Gospel He comes to provide life for the party. When Jesus is let in, people are well. He joins His mother the primary guest. She invites the waiters to become disciples also, “Do whatever He tells you.” She says. They do, and Jesus takes the water they put in, and in a miracle moment, in comes the best wine of the evening for the guests.

God breaks in. Today’s readings are about the intersection of our frustrated plans and openness to the Divine. When Dr. King spoke, God broke in, we know that. A justice is unfolding that he and God dreamed.

This is the story of God’s people. We flounder, and God breaks in.

The Israelites were frustrated being slaves, outcasts, deprived, but God breaks in. They come to nation status and please God. After trusting in God, obeying God’s law, they become like the dawn in the desert where the morning dew bring a display of wonderful colors and flowers. Unfortunately, they will wither in the sun soon.

Paul’s people in Corinth were beginning to fraction off with so many talents and speakers, and stories. But God breaks in, and Paul shows them how each gift is from the same Spirit of the same God who gave them all.

Paul helps them see that each has a part to play in the unfolding of truth.

God breaks in and gives each value as they express their giftedness.

The wedding at Cana was becoming a real problem with everyone getting a toast glass full but then no more. God breaks and reveals that in Jesus will come a new refreshment better than before. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. This wine is better, because God broke in.

And so now to you, me.

Where is the intersection of our frustrated plans and openness to the Divine? Experiencing only the frustrated plan? Hmmmm.

Look down the other road at the intersection, openness to the Divine.

How might God be at work in the intersection?

Trust Mary’s words of invitation. They may be to you also.

“Do whatever He tells you.” That begins the other road, creates an openness to the Divine. I’ll bet there is good we are overlooking,

coming right in the middle of our frustrated plan.

Don’t you want the good stuff? The headwaiter is dumbfounded about why you’d get it now. “Sir, you have saved the best for last?”

We bring water, He makes wine. That is if we are open to the Divine?

So many gifts, real vindication for people. We must see them in each other, let them be expressed, and then come and drink, open to the Divine in us. God breaks in, if we let Him.