Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

We now enter into what is called “ordinary time” in the Church’s year. We will hear a selection of readings from the Old and New Testament which seem random at times; indeed they are to the extent that the Gospels make no attempt to present a diary of the life of Jesus in a chronological order. 

   So today, we are introduced to what is accepted as the first miracle of Jesus. He shows the generosity of God for those in need – a young couple who would lose face if the guests went home grumbling about the lack of win. This however is not the central teaching. It rather revolves around Jesus as the bridegroom of Israel. The analogy with a wedding banquet would be made by Jesus many times in his ministry. At the Last Supper, he would say to his disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Wherever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.” Jesus changed the water into wine. As the long awaited bridegroom of Israel, he was about to change in the old covenant (made with Moses) into the new covenant signed by his own blood. This change in the relationship between God and man would be more fully understood as his public ministry developed and the parables shone a light on the new values.

• On Monday, the mass time reverts to 8am
• On Tuesday, Our Journey in Faith kicks off after a good break
• On Friday, there will be a Liturgy of the Word at 9.30am
• Please take a yellow sheet which gives an outline of the Healing Weekend at OLQH from March 4^th-7^th.
• Sobering thought: “Men are like wine, some turn to vinegar, but others improve with age.” Pope John XXIII

God Bless Fr John