Weekly Bulletin 16th January 2022

Mon to Fri Mass @ 7pm.  Sat –  Vigil @ 6.30pm.  Sun  10.30am, 12noon & 4pm.  www.thegraan.com thegraan@btconnect.com 02866322272

Today is the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel today (John 2:1-11) is often read at the celebration of the sacrament of marriage. The last sentence in today’s Gospel states “This was the first of the signs given by Jesus it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen and his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11) John recounts seven such signs in his Gospel. John tells us the purpose of writing the Gospel was for us to have faith in Jesus. “There are many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name” (John 20:30). What does John mean by “signs”? It is another word for “miracle”. By these “signs” Jesus shows that He is the revealer of God. The “sign” points to his identity as the Messiah.  They both reveal who Jesus is and they mask him also or distort him when people don’t go deep enough  into the signs! One has to move through the sign to the reality of Jesus behind them. Today’s miracle takes place at a wedding banquet. The banquet is always an image of the heavenly kingdom where everyone has a seat. The Jewish tradition understood one’s ultimate destiny as sharing with God in a feast. (See: Isaiah 25:6-9).  Isaiah in poetic language in today’s first reading (62:1-5) gives hope to a disillusioned people who have just returned from captivity to their beloved city Jerusalem that has been left ravaged and bereft “… you will be called “My Delight” and your land “The Wedded” for the Lord will take delight in you and your land will have its wedding” (Isaiah 62:4). Can we hear the echo of that reality in today’s Gospel? The wedding couple have run out of resources – they have no wine! Our Mother notices their plight – “They have no wine” (John 2:4). And she urges those aware of the situation to –“Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:6). These are the last recorded words of Mary in the Gospels. Jesus calls those around them, the servants, to action, like Paul tells his friends in his letter to the Corinthians today to use the particular gifts they have been given for the sake of all “All these [gifts] are the work of one and the same Spirit, who distributes different gifts to different people just as he chooses” (1 Corinthians 12:11). The prophet Joel 3:18 speaks of a time when “on that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk” Jesus has come to bring that new reality to fruition by announcing the coming of God’s Kingdom. With his coming a great transformation happened. Everywhere he went the old was made new. At Cana he changed water into wine. At Naim for a poor widow he changed tears into joy.  At Jericho for Zacchaeus he changed selfishness into generosity. On Calvary for the good thief he changed despair into hope. On Easter morning he changed death into life. What a pity if we settled for the old wine when the new wine is offered in such abundance to all who seek it in their need. 

Feasts of the Week:  Monday: St Anthony -“Father of Monasticism” died 356. Tuesday: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on Tuesday 18th and ends on 25th January. Friday St. Agnes Virgin Martyr – (291-304) – It is said whenever a man wished to marry Agnes, she would always say, “Jesus Christ is my only Spouse.” She is often represented with a lamb, the symbol of her virgin innocence, and a palm branch, a sign of victory.

Thanks to you all for the very generous collection last weekend. It came to £1850.   Be assured of the constant prayers of this community. Thanks also to our Ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist who help in the smooth running of our religious services. Thanks to our wonderful volunteer workers who helped to clean our Church last Wednesday. We welcome our new members and if any would like to help in this ministry please leave your name and number at reception.

Christmas Crib: Thank you for all your kind contributions for the poor. The total collected came to £1900.

It will be distributed next week to St Vincent de Paul to help their work with those in need.

The Shop: Open Mon to Sat:  9.30am – 7pm. Sun 9.30 – 4.30pm. 

Guild Mass Cards: We have a selection of cards for Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Graduation, Wedding, Birthday, Christening Bouquets.  Cost £2 / €2.50.

Friday Exposition continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm.

Masses: Mon to Fri @ 7pm.  Mon (17^th Jan) @ 7pm –Arthur   (Confessions Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm)  Tues: Brian     Wed –Victor   Thurs – Charles   Fri – Anthony   Sat – Arthur