Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

The Bishop delivered a homily on the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, drawing parallels between the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine and contemporary social issues. He began by recalling how Mary intervened at a wedding to prevent a crisis when there was no wine. Despite initial reluctance from Jesus, she persisted, resulting in a miraculous transformation of water into high-quality wine.

The Bishop emphasized that the events in the gospels are not just historical but relevant today. "Jesus is still with us," he stated, urging believers to act like Mary by noticing the needs around them and bringing them to Jesus. He highlighted the role of holy Mother Church as one that involves organizing efforts and using diverse gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit to address societal problems.

Focusing on homelessness, he challenged his congregation to move beyond indifference and take action. "It is easy for us to be silent, to be indifferent," he said, encouraging collective effort in addressing complex issues through faith and hard work.

He addressed feelings of hopelessness among people overwhelmed by life's challenges or anger towards God due to personal loss or illness. The Bishop called for proactive prayer and actions inspired by faith to bring hope where there is despair.

Concerning waning faith, he pointed out that some individuals have misplaced their trust in themselves rather than God. This lack of faith poses a greater issue than running out of wine at a wedding. The Bishop urged those with even minimal faith to guide others back toward spiritual fulfillment through Christ.

In conclusion, he reminded his audience that Jesus remains present today through Word and sacrament, ready to address worldly needs brought before him by believers with trust in his love's transformative power.