Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!" - John 12:49-50

"Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." - Genesis 22:18

Prayer: Jesus, I see the anguish in Your longing for the salvation of all peoples, throughout the world. I see You desire to heal our hearts and minds, to heal the wounds we carry. Help us to love You and be encouraged to join You in Your mission for salvation. Help us to prayer and offer sacrifices and mercy toward those in need, that they may come to true faith in You. Amen.

Renewed Faith

The liturgy for today in the prayers and the reading reflect God's desire to renew all of humanity. That we might be saved through Him. In the reading from Isaiah we see the end of the book that God promises great and wonderful things for us, "The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create." And God promises even more throughout that reading.

In John's Gospel, we see that Jesus is setting the stage for the fulfillment of these promise. Jesus has returned to Cana, the place of His first public sign. And John reminds us that Cana is, "where [Jesus] had made the water wine." A sign or miracle that signified Jesus's ability to make things new and that the greater celebrations were to come as the best wine was saved for last.

Now this time again in Cana, Jesus performs His second sign. It is a sign that is not witnessed directly by the crowds, on through the eyes of the royal official. This sign reveals Jesus's healing power to do great things even remotely. That Jesus could heal someone in Capernaum, while being in Cana. This sign reveals too Jesus's desire to save us from death. "Your son will live." And that Jesus desires to heal those even outside of the Israelite people, all nations.

At its core this Gospel is about Jesus's thirst for our faith, our belief in Him. When the father, the royal officials, eyes were opened, when he realized he was brought to faith. The Gospel says, "The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live,' and he and his whole household came to believe."

Now in the world there are many households that Jesus desires to have them come to faith in Him. I encourage you to pray, do the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, offer sacrifice for the conversion of others. Think of people in your family, in your community, that need the joy of the Gospel, the joy of faith in Jesus. think of the bars, broken homes, those suffering from illness, abandonment, etc. Ask God to bring the to a renewed faith.

May God richly bless you!

-Fr. Jeremy