This week we are guests/observers at a wedding where Jesus reveals his divine power with his first miracle. You remember the story…Jesus, his mother and his disciples (Joseph is not mentioned in the story; he may well have died already) were guests at a wedding feast in the booming metropolis of Cana (Cana was located some eight miles northeast of Nazareth). When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told him about it. At first Jesus seemed to refuse to do anything about it. But later he told the servants to fill six large stone jars with water and take some to the headwaiter. When they did so, the water had become wine, better wine than that which had run out. It was a MIRACLE!!! Among the Jews of that time, wine was not only considered a staple food item, but was also frequently used in times of celebration. To run short of wine at a wedding feast was most likely a serious problem, particularly damaging to the reputation of the host and an ill omen for the newly-married couple. What does this mean for us in 2016? Consider this application…in today’s second reading, St. Paul reminds us that the new wine that Jesus pours out for us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts can tend to take a back seat in the way we consider our spiritual life. Each of us is endowed by the Holy Spirit with distinctive gifts. All these gifts…when we use them…are really signs of the Holy Spirit’s activity within us. Each gift of the Holy Spirit is given for the sake and well-being of the others in the family of believers and for bearing witness to God’s power and glory. So…it prevails upon us to use our gifts in such a way as to build up, protect and nourish the ties that bind us in Christ. Jesus’ first sign at Cana and Paul’s advice to the Corinthians regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit challenge us to become more sensitive to the many signs of God’s power and glory around us, to open our eyes and hearts to perceive them as coming from God and to give glory to God for them. Two senior ladies met for the first time since graduating from high school. One asked the other, "You were always so organized in school, meticulously planning every detail. How did you plan your married life?" "Well," said her friend, "My first marriage was to a millionaire; my second marriage was to an actor; my third marriage was to a preacher; and now I'm married to an undertaker." Asked the friend, "What do those marriages have to do with a well-planned life?" "The first marriage was for the money, the second for the show, the third to get ready and the fourth to go!" Hello!!! Gospel Question of the Week: When is the last time you sincerely thanked the Lord for the good things He has given you in your life?