St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish Grand Prairie, Texas
Gospel Meditations
January 19, 2025
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
John 2:1-12
A friend invited me to an invitation-only wine-tasting event. There were over two hundred varieties of wine. Having no idea how to approach such a massive selection, I wandered aimlessly among the tables, sipping this and that. At the end of the evening my friend asked if I had tried some of the exceptionally expensive wines. I hadn’t. “The really good stuff disappears first,” he said. “My man, you missed out on some amazing vino.” I was so disappointed. I wasted my chance for amazing once-in-a-lifetime wine. The wine I tasted was, well, blah.
Don’t we often feel a similar disappointment in life? I missed this or that opportunity. If only I had known. Optimism sputters and fades. The glory days are gone. The chances, it seems, for the really great things in life come and go so quickly. Then they are gone forever. The good stuff goes first. Then life is just blah.
Not so with the Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ miracle at the wedding at Cana, the steward of the feast says, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then…an inferior one” (John 2:10). That’s the natural downward progression of life. The good stuff disappears quickly. But he says of the groom (who symbolizes Jesus), “But you have kept the good wine until now.” This is the ever-improving trajectory of the realm of God’s grace. With Jesus, the “good wine” of divine love, hope and peace gets better as our journey of faith progresses. Where are your greatest disappointments? Don’t give in to the lie that the really good stuff is gone. Tell Jesus you’ve run out. Then learn how to taste that amazingly good wine, because he saves the best until now.
— Father John Muir
©LPi
19 de enero de 2025
2º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario
Estemos listos o no lo estemos, hemos llegado al Tiempo Ordinario. Se ha terminado la Navidad. Ahora, el Evangelio de cada domingo nos va ir presentando la imagen de Jesús en su vida pública. Jesús nos presenta el Reino de Dios con una fiesta, una boda. Y con esto cambia el sentido de lo puritano y se rompen algunos protocolos de la Ley. Las tinajas llenas de agua esperaban, sin saberlo, convertirse en el primer milagro de Jesús de transformar el agua en vino. La nota de alegría, de festejar y disfrutar es una noticia alegre. Jesús, nos muestra que, a pesar de lo duro de la vida, del sufrimiento y los fracasos, existe una esperanza. ¿Cómo podemos ponerle una chispa de alegría a nuestra fe? ¿Se te ocurre algo para disfrutar con Jesús en la fiesta de su Reino?
Asimismo, existe la otra enseñanza, la de María, la Madre de Jesús, que estuvo atenta en aquella fiesta y se dio cuenta que no había vino. Ella supo poner el problema en manos de Aquel que lo resolvería. Y dio la siguiente instrucción: “Hagan lo que él les diga” (Juan 2:5); e inmediatamente, desapareció totalmente de la escena, dejando en Jesús todo el protagonismo. ¿Qué debo aprender de María? Que ella nos lleva a Jesús y que cada vez que haga una buena acción, las personas le reconozcan a Él y yo desaparezca.
©LPi
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, January 20th for MLK Day.
Unfortunately, due to warehouse stock issues, we will not be giving out Calendars this year. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for understanding.
"Nun with a Nikon"- Meet Sr. Rose Tulacz the weekend of January 26th
Stop by the parish narthex after Masses Jan. 25th & Jan. 26th to view and purchase the award-winning liturgical, nature, and landscape photography of Sister Rose Marie Tulacz, known as the “Nun with a Nikon.” Sister has spent a lifetime working to spearhead projects around the globe and helping vulnerable, underserved women and children.
Cards, prints, and framed artwork will be available for sale. All proceeds support the spiritual and humanitarian outreach of the Sisters of Notre Dame.
Please check out her website to learn more and see her fine work: www.sisterrosemarietulacz.com
Faith Formation News
Sacramental Interviews (2nd Year Classes):
Sacramental Interviews start this month! The review study guides have been sent out to all parents via email and are available via the parish website. In Short, Sacramental interviews are held to ensure that all students have obtained the knowledge required for Sacramental Reception (as required by the Code of Canon Law).
The Interview Dates are as follows:
Saturday, January 25th 11:00pm to 2:00pm - Sunday & Thursday Eucharist II Classes
Sunday, January 26th 11:00am to 2:00pm - Wednesday Eucharist II Classes & Confirmation I students who need 1st Eucharist
Sunday, February 2nd 11:00am to 2:00pm - Sunday and Thursday Confirmation II Classes
Sunday, February 9th 11:00am to 2:00pm - Wednesday Confirmation II Classes
Sunday, March 16th 11:00am to 2:00pm - OCIA II Classes
We will be collecting all final tuition payments and missing Sacramental Documentation during interview times, so please make sure to bring a form of payment in case you have an outstanding balance.
Food Distribution
The Catholic Charities of Dallas will be on our Campus on January 21st for a Mobile Food Distribution at 9am. All in need are welcome to attend. Please arrive on time as items are limited.
