 |
| The Massabielle grotto where St. Bernadette saw the Blessed Virgin Mary |
John 2:1-11, the Gospel at Mass on the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
Here in the Gospel, we see Mary the Mother of God stepping in on behalf of poor man and woman.
She tells her Son that man and woman are in need.
Then, she turns to speak on behalf of God as well.
She says to the servants of God: Do whatever he tells you.
So, her intercession is two-way.
She tells God that man and woman are in need.
She tells us to do whatever God says.
This same work or mission of the Mother of God is present in her three great mystical comings: at Tepeyac in Mexico, at Lourdes in France, and at Fatima in Portugal.
In all three, she brings again the mission she began at Cana in Galilee.
In all three, she visits human poverty and need as she did at Cana.
In all three, she tells the servants of God to build a church.
We are inside a church building right now.
Here we gather with mindfulness to hear the Gospel of God and to obey it.
As the Mother of God said at Cana: Do whatever he tells you.
As Christ changed water into wine at Cana, here in his Church he changes wine and bread into his Body and Blood.
At Cana, his glory shows itself to us, because his Mother gave voice to human need and misery, and because she believed in her Son who is God.
He honored his mother, her mind and her love for the poor.
In this way, as the Gospel testifies today, he revealed his glory.
He did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory.
He revealed his glory because his Mother stepped in.
He revealed his glory in changing water into wine.
When his Mother came in mystery to Lourdes, water began to flow there as a sign and instrument of healing might.
There she revealed her spring to St. Bernadette, thus drawing the faith of uncounted pilgrims.
There the pilgrims still meet God the Son of Mary in the sacrament of confession, where he heals them from sin.
At Lourdes, the faithful worship God, and can know the touch of his healing hand in the sacrament of anointing of the sick.
Most especially, the pilgrims at Mary's spring at Lourdes can taste and know the glory of God the Son of Mary in the Eucharistic Body and Blood of Christ.
Many of the miraculous healings at Lourdes happen through the Eucharist.
Whether with water at Lourdes or water at Cana, the Mother of God directs all her fellow servants to faith in the glory of her Son.
Let us follow her example and believe in the glory of God her Son.
Let us follow her directions to do whatever God her Son tells us.
Let us follower her example by stepping in wherever there is human need.
Let us follow her example and tell the world to do whatever her Son says, for he is God.
