//JESUS AS WEDDING CRASHER?

JESUS AS WEDDING CRASHER?

Seven seconds. That’s all it takes to form a first impression. I watched this truth play out in real time during a college orientation. Picture this: hundreds of freshmen, slouched in their seats after an hour of endless presentations. Then the speaker drops this bomb about seven seconds, and suddenly everyone snaps to attention. Some sit up straight. Others start stealing glances at their neighbors, suddenly very aware of the impressions they’re making.

Psychologists tell us that in those brief moments, we make snap judgments about everything – trustworthiness, strength, intelligence, you name it. And once those impressions take root? They’re stubborn things, resistant to change even in the face of contradicting evidence.

A heartfelt thank you for taking the time to read this homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 19, 2025). Your support means the world to me, and I’m deeply moved by how this community shares these messages of faith. If you’ve found meaning in these words, I’d be grateful if you’d share them with others who might benefit.

And for those who prefer listening, you can find the audio version on SoundCloud HERE or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes HERE. Your comments, messages, and the way you’ve embraced these homilies continue to inspire me. Together, we’re spreading God’s word, one share at a time. Sincerely in Christ -Father Jim

This got me thinking about first impressions in my own life. I can still remember meeting my closest friends, those initial conversations that sparked lifelong connections. I remember walking into classrooms and knowing, within moments, which teachers would change my life (and which ones… well, let’s just say not every first impression is a good one).

But let’s talk about the ultimate first impression. We’ve just wrapped up the Christmas season in our Catholic calendar. We had the Epiphany – wise men following a star to meet a king. Then came Jesus’ baptism, where God’s voice booms from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Talk about making an entrance.

And now we arrive at today’s Gospel – Jesus’ first public miracle. Think about this for a moment. Of all the ways Jesus could have introduced His ministry – healing the sick, raising the dead, calming storms – He chooses to turn water into wine at a wedding.

St. John, ever the thoughtful storyteller, packs this account with meaning. He doesn’t even call Mary by name, simply “the mother of Jesus,” keeping our focus squarely on Christ. When Jesus addresses Mary as “woman,” it’s not a rebuke but a deliberate echo to the first book of the Bible, of the Old Testament – the Book of Genesis, casting Mary as the new Eve who prompts the new Adam toward salvation rather than sin.

But let’s focus on the miracle itself. Jesus doesn’t just save this wedding party from social embarrassment – He transforms about 180 gallons of water into premium wine. That’s roughly 900 bottles in today’s terms, enough to keep this week-long village celebration going strong. (And yes, this is usually where my college students perk up, suddenly very interested in biblical history.)

But why wine? Why not something else? The answer lies in the difference between water and wine. Water is survival – we can’t live without it. Wine, on the other hand, is celebration. It takes time, patience, and artistry to create. It’s not necessary for life, but it makes life richer.

And therein lies Jesus’ first impression: He didn’t come just to help us survive. He came to help us thrive. As He’ll say later in John’s Gospel, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

This message feels especially crucial today. We live in a world obsessed with survival, bombarded by fear and uncertainty. Many have lost touch with the supernatural, viewing life through an entirely material lens. Even we, as people of faith, can fall into lukewarm expectations about God’s presence in our lives.

But this first miracle reminds us that God isn’t interested in half measures. The same Jesus who turned water into wine – and not just any wine, but the best wine – is still transforming lives today. Through the gifts of the Spirit that Paul describes in Corinthians, through the intimate relationship Isaiah compares to a marriage between God and His people, Jesus continues to turn the water of our ordinary lives into something extraordinary.

So let me ask you: What kind of life are you living? Are you settling for water when God is offering wine? Are you merely surviving when Christ is inviting you to thrive?

Because here’s the truth: God’s first impression wasn’t just about keeping a party going. It was about showing us who He is – a God of abundance, of transformation, of joy. And He’s still in the business of turning water into wine, of making the ordinary extraordinary, of taking whatever we bring Him and transforming it into something beyond our wildest expectations.

That’s the kind of first impression that lasts a lifetime – and beyond.