Commentary

Isaiah 62:1-5
The prophet’s belly burns with turmoil when he does not proclaim all the words of
the L ORD. He speaks of a time in the future. Israel’s lot has changed from being
at the bottom of the heap to the absolute top. No longer is she dejected. Instead,
she is the apple of His eye.

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent – The prophet cannot keep quiet
because if he does, it will hurt people that he loves.
Isaiah 62:2 nations shall see your vindication – Sometime in the not too distant
future, it will be apparent to all that the L ORD loves the people of Israel.
you shall be called by a new name – Everyone will hear the change. A new
future is given and you recognize it in her name.
Isaiah 62:3 crown of beauty in the hand of the L ORD – The L ORD Himself will
hold Israel. She will be delightful to see.
Isaiah 62:4 called My Delight Is in Her – Like a lover, the L ORD names Israel as
the one He wants.
Isaiah 62:5 so shall your builder marry you – The L ORD pays the price for the
bride and takes her as His own.

Psalm 36:5-10
The psalmist proclaims the L ORD’s love for the people of the earth. He brings
healing to all of creation and He gives life to the world. This section ends with the
prayer that the L ORD continues to bless His people.

Psalm 36:5 Your steadfast love, O L ORD, extends to the heavens – Using the
cosmology of the time, the author states that there is no place where L ORD’s
love is missing.
Psalm 36:6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains – The certainty of
the L ORD’s actions cannot be questioned. They and mountains do not move.
your judgements are like the great deep – Nothing at all escapes the sight of
the L ORD.

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 you save humans and animals alike – Healing and health are given to all of
creation.

Psalm 36:7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! – Never does the love
of the L ORD waver or grow weak.
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings – Like chicks that
gather beneath the wings of their parent, the L ORD offers protection to His
children.

Psalm 36:8 They feast on the abundance of your house – The L ORD gives food to
His children. These verses that speak of gifts in the present age show us the
life God wants us to live. But for some unexplainable reason, which cannot
be that God is either powerless against the forces of the earth or that God
does not speak the truth, this reality of wealth does not exist for many of
God’s followers.

Psalm 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life – Life springs from the L ORD.

Psalm 36:10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you – The prayer
on the lips of the author is that the L ORD stay on the path of life otherwise
the world will end for everyone.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Paul lists the different gifts of the Holy Spirit and informs the audience listening
to the letter that every blessing comes from God.

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts – The author of the letter ad-
dresses the point at hand that seems to be causing a problem in the church.

1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that when you were pagans – At one time in your
life, you acted like you did not know the true God.

1 Corinthians 12:3 no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus
be cursed!” – There are definite limits to what a Christian can say and then
attribute to God.
No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit – Paul explicitly
states that all need God’s power for confession.

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1 Corinthians 12:4 varieties of gifts – The reality seen in the world is true. God
has blessed people differently. The followers of Christ must take advantage
of this diversity otherwise we waste what God has given the world.

1 Corinthians 12:5 varieties of services – The same idea applies to the work done
by the church. The people who are called Christians all have specific tasks
that need to be completed in God’s name. Replying on a single individual
to do the entire work of the church discounts the rich way God blesses the
church on earth.

1 Corinthians 12:6 varieties of activities – There is a difference between people

in the church and she needs to realize this fact.

1 Corinthians 12:7 the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good – The
application of the what has been given to all Christians is that this group
must work together and improve everyone’s lot in life.

1 Corinthians 12:8 To one is given – Now the author will list some examples. The
ordering might be important since speaking in tongues and understanding
tongues is last on the list. But if this is true then wisdom and knowledge are
more important than faith.
the utterance of wisdom – The gift of wisdom (σοφία) is not limited to the
elders that sit by the gate, those that sit on the board of elders, or the one in
the pulpit.
the utterance of knowledge – The church must realize the even technical
abilities (γνῶσις) and science itself come from the Spirit. This knowledge
should be used for the common good of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith – The gift of faith (πίστις) is an interesting

concept. It sometime seems that today in the church, people believe that
everyone has faith at all times. Paul seems to indicate that faith may come
and go. Perhaps the church can learn from this and just walk with the people
of God who no longer have any faith.
to another gifts of healing – The Spirit brings cures (ἴαμα) to the problems
of the world. Does the church keep this to herself? Does she charge for
something freely given?

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 1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles – The powerful deeds
(δύναμις seen in the church are gifts from God. How are these used for the
good of the body and of the world?
to another prophecy – Apparently, Paul did not get the memo that prophecy
(προφητεία) ended. How does the church resolve the tension between Paul’s
list and the concept that Jesus fulfilled all prophecy and thus no more prophets
are needed?
to another the discernment of spirits – Not every spirit is helpful. Some are
given the gift of judging (διάκρισις between the good and the evil spirits.
to another various kinds of tongues – Individuals in the church are given the
ability to speak different languages (γλῶσσα). Given the separation between
speaking and understanding there seems to be an indication that these two
gifts need not be in the same individual.
to another the interpretation of tongues – Specific people are given the gift
of understanding language (γλῶσσα).
1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit – Despite
the difference between the gifts, they all come from the same source.
who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses – The Christian
cannot force the Spirit to give them a specific gift.

John 2:1-11
This lesson shows the first of the signs in the Holy Gospel according to St. John.
On one level, it presents a wedding where something has gone terribly wrong. The
celebration of a new life is threatened due to the lack of wine. On another level,
the account points to the feast that is to come.
John 2:1 On the third day – This indicates that the them introduced in John 1:19
is drawing to an end.1 It also recalls on the third day of Pentecost, God’s
glory is seen in the gift of the law (Exodus 19:16).2
there was a wedding –This setting brings to mind the blessings of the mes-
siah (Hosea 2:19-20; Isaiah 25:6-8; Jeremiah 2:2; Song of Songs).3
1
Francis J. Moloney, S.D.B.; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., editor, The Gospel of John, Volume 4,
Sacra Pagina Series, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1998), p. 63.
2
Ibid.
3
Ibid., p. 66.

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 the mother of Jesus was there – Despite the issues that are seen in the ex-
planation of this passage, it is important to remember the first character
introduced is Mary.4

John 2:2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding – Some-
times interpreters suggest that the disciples were the source of the problem
with the wine.5 This cannot be seen in the text.6

John 2:3 When the wine gave out – The “first hand of Sinaiticus and the Old
Latin” contain a phrase that the wine for the feast had been consumed.7 The
shorter reading found here in the NSRV, RSV, KJV, etc is preferred.8

John 2:4 Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet
come. – This response by Jesus does not seem appropriate at all.9 Jesus
addresses His mother, the phrase used by the narrator, as “woman (γύναι).”
It is hard to tell if τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί is a question or a statement.10 It might be
a practice that agrees to disagrees.11
It takes the entire Gospel to show the audience the hour of Christ.12 Even
with this revelation, the reality is that followers of Christ only receive a
foretaste of the feast to come.

John 2:5 Do whatever he tells you. – Despite the harsh rebuke by Jesus, Mary
commands the servants to do literally whatever Jesus asks. She trusts Jesus.
The servants execute Mary’s order to them perfectly.
This also could be a part of the story at Sinai where the people respond after
receiving the law that they will follow the law (Exodus 19:8; 24:3; 24:7).13

John 2:6 six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification – This tells the
audience that the wedding is Jewish.
4
Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 71.
5
Ibid.
6
Ibid.
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid.
9
Ibid., p. 67.
10
Ibid., p. 71.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid.
13
Ibid., p. 72.

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 John 2:7 “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. – When
the Word commands, the people obey.

John 2:8 “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took
it. – A second time, the servants listened to the command from Jesus and
followed it.

John 2:9 that had become wine – This does not seem to explain why wine is used
in Holy Communion.14
and did not know where it came from – It only seems logical that the stew-
ard would have inventoried all the wine before the start of the wedding. This
is something new. To read much more into this part of the story seems to
be questionable. Reasonably, how would the steward know where the wine
came from? Had he been told about Jesus? In fact, had anyone seen Je-
sus perform another sign? According to the story, that would be impossible
since this was the first miracle performed by Jesus.
the steward called the bridegroom – The steward wanted answers to his
questions. Logically, he calls the groom to see what he knows.
The harsh realities of this world stand in stark opposition to the overabun-
dance in the Gospel lesson.

John 2:10 and said to him – The groom never answers the steward.

John 2:11 revealed his glory – The people saw Jesus.

and his disciples believed in him – The unspoken question is, “Why?” Is
their belief in one who works miracles? Or do that believe something else?

References
Moloney, S.D.B., Francis J.; Harrington, S.J., Daniel J., editor, The Gospel of
John, Volume 4, Sacra Pagina Series, (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Litur-
gical Press, 1998).

14
Moloney, The Gospel of John, p. 72.