In the parable that Christ narrates in this Sunday's Gospel, we catch a glimpse of the heart of God. In the father's attitude of love to his returning, prodigal son, we see God's welcoming compassion to every returning prodigal. For those among us who are lost, the Gospel account is a message of hope-hope of being found. The selfsame Gospel entreats others to care for the lost much like God does.

In Moses, we find a reluctant leader. His joy on account of God's liberation of the people of Israel is soon overtaken by doubt and reluctance, when God tells him that he would be the leader who would lead the Israelites out of bondage. Often we too are reluctant to obey and follow when we hear the call of God.May we be challenged and encouraged to not only hear but also heed the call that God places in our lives.

Scripture is replete with examples of human beings who were resolute in their faith even when situations and circumstances surrounding them were quite contrary to their faith. Be it the Psalmist from today's Psalm or Abraham from Genesis and Romans, they were resolved to believe because they were persuaded by God's promise and their expectations.

In Christ's overcoming the Tempter we have not just an example, but also encouragement. We invite you to learn of the goodness of God in spite of the bitter reality of a life plagued by temptations.

To the modern reader of this Sunday’s Gospel, running out of wine at a wedding is hardly an emergency. Nonetheless the first recorded miracle that Jesus Christ performed alleviated the embarrassment of the host when they ran out of wine at the wedding. This Gospel account is an endearing reminder of Christ’s concern for every aspect of our life – the grand and the trivial. May this Gospel account challenge us to consider the kind of lives we live; the kind of response we make to a God who cares deeply about every area of our life.

In the Gospel, we encounter John the Baptizer subduing the doubts of those around him. He says he is not the Christ. After which he promises the coming of the ONE who took upon Himself the form of humanity; the ONE who would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire. The message that John proclaimed is just as potent today as it was then.

The Gospel account recounts wise men from the east who came in search of the King. They sought Him among royalty but found Him instead among the common. They did not cease from their seeking and striving until they beheld that Holy Child and worshipped Him. May we learn from the wise men the true meaning and attitude of worship. And may we continually worship the King who was born among us.