What happened at Cana happens sooner or later in every marriage in every family, and in our lives, the wine runs out. I read an interesting anecdote recently: a man was sitting on the sofa watching the TV when he heard his wife’s voice from the kitchen, what would you like for dinner love, chicken, beef or lamb? He said: thank you, I’ll have chicken. Hump off your having soup I was talking to the cat. Image the scene at an Irish wedding, everybody is having a great time, the band is playing, the celebration is in full swing and then the horror of horrors, the bar runs dry. Imagine the anger and embarrassment of the wedding couple when the hotel manager tells them the awful news. It wouldn’t be long before the scene was posted on Instagram, Facebook, and you tube and there would be floods of calls into Joe Duffy. The typical marriage starts off with a feast of joy and enthusiasm. The couple are surrounded by friends and well-wishers, who shower them with gifts. Full of hopes and dreams they set off on their honeymoon. The wine is flowing freely. They come back from the honeymoon and the real business begins – setting up a home and learning to live with one another. The wine is still flowing. When human beings are very close to one another and try to work with one another problems and tensions inevitably occur. They discover that they did not marry an angel after all, but a human being wounded by sin and selfishness. The honeymoon is over. The wine has run out. What do they do? Some are tempted to run out with the wine. There is nothing in it for me any longer. They begin to look elsewhere for different wine. What can the couple do? They must acknowledge that the first wine has run out. They must resist the temptation to abandon the relationship and loose themselves in a career or a hectic social life. Every crisis is an opportunity and it stimulates people to think again. The new wine the new love consists in putting the other person before oneself. They must do like the Cana couple did today; invite Jesus into their home. Many of us can identify with he Cana couple’s predicament; we all know that life isn’t perfect and that we need the help of others when difficulties come our way. When we read the gospels it’s amazing how many miracles Jesus worked in people’s homes: The first time he went to Peter’s home he cured Peter’s mother in law, when the synagogue official invited Jesus into his home he raised his daughter to life, when Zacchaeus the cutthroat tax collector invited Jesus into his home, Zacchaeus was converted, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus invited Jesus into their home and there they celebrated the first Eucharist. These examples challenge us to ask ourselves, “Have we ever consciously invited Jesus into our home, in a practical way?’’ For example, if an interior decorator checked over our home, would he or she see any evidence on our walls that we are a Christina Family family? Or would the decorator merely say, “I see your kids are big followers of Liverpool or Manchester City; and you are great followers of Bruce Springsteen.’’ That little red light of the sacred heart picture has been replaced by the red light of the super hi-fi sound system. Or suppose your daughter or son brought home a friend from college. Would that friend say to her/him on their return trip to college: “Your family is really Christian? I can’t remember praying at meals as I prayed in your home; “and I can’t remember hearing your family gossip or criticize anyone or put anyone down.’’ That college friend would never be the same again, because she had met Jesus in our home. Inviting Jesus into our home could be the most important thing we ever do. And the way we do it can range all the way from placing a crucifix or picture to praying reverently at meals. Or it can range all the way from treating each other with genuine love to never speaking ill of others. As he did with the Cana couple, Jesus will help us out when we are in difficulties. Let’s close with a prayer: Lord Jesus, come into our home and bless it. Bless the doors of our home. May they always be open to the stranger and the lonely? Bless the rooms of our home. May they always be filled with your presence. Above all, bless each member of our family. May their minds be ever open to your word. May their hands be ever outstretched to the needy. And may their hearts be ever turned towards you.