This Sunday’s Gospel reading at Mass is the familiar account of Jesus and his disciples and Mary the mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee.

In this first miracle of Jesus, 880 litres of water are turned into wine. Not only that, the best wine, unusually saved until last was the comment.

This Sunday is also Peace Sunday where the Church reflects on the great need for peace in the world.

If only the world could emulate the wedding party at Cana and joyfully celebrate all that God imparts to us. Instead, we see squabbling, fighting and killing over national borders and dictatorships and religious persecution.  But it has always been like this. Kings and governments pushing out national boundaries and influence and subjugating others by means of naked aggression and the threat of incarceration or death.

It’s on the news in media free countries every day.

Jesus came to show a better way. He calls upon everyone to join the party – a life of peace and selfless concern for others especially the poor, marginalised and the down trodden.

For those who accept this invitation, an eternal banquet is assured where there are no more tears only peace, joy and ultimate fulfilment.

In this week’s Sunday Gospel, we see how Jesus was immersed in His Father’s affirming love by the words spoken from heaven following his baptism in the Jordan “You are my Son, the beloved.”

The Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit signified by the dove, were present at this event.

What does this mean for Christians?  Christians are resident aliens in this world. We are the children of God, brothers of Jesus imbued with the Holy Spirit. At baptism we become members of God’s family the Church and are commissioned to play our part in transforming the world.

Our family characteristics can be summed up in the Fruits of the Spirit in St Paul’s letter to the Galatians 5.22 – 23. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.  

These fruits are transformative and run counter to war, greed, indifference to the plight of others and such qualities  challenge the world to find a new way as we face climate change with the threat it poses to our God given home – planet earth.

Jesus emerges from his baptism as the light of the world which the Church has just celebrated in the feast of the Epiphany and as brothers and sisters of Christ and members of the family of God we can reflect this light which has the power to put an end to darkness and give new hope.  

When Christians make the sign of the cross we can recall the baptism of Jesus and the greatest act of love ever which opens for us the way to eternity.