Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days.

- John 2:1-12

My study bible points out that this event - changing the water to wine at the wedding in Cana - is the first of seven signs that Jesus will perform which are reported to us in John's gospel. They include changing the water to wine in this passage, curing a nobleman's son, healing a paralytic, feeding 5,000 people, walking on water, giving sight to a blind man and raising Lazarus from the dead. Seven is a significant number, signifying completion.

My study bible also notes that the setting is important. A marriage feast, in tradition from the Old Testament, symbolizes the union of God with the bride Israel. At this famous wedding in which Christ will perform his first miracle, we are in Galilee. We recall that in yesterday's reading, we were told Jesus went to Galilee, where he found two more apostles to add to those chosen the first day. Galilee was Gentile territory, heavily influenced by Greek culture. Although there were many Jews - including converts - in Galilee, it was considered "second class" by Jews because it was not "pure" and had foreign influence. For we believers, this first miracle, performed outside of Judea, tells us of "the joy of the Kingdom being spread beyond Judea to all the world," as my study bible puts it in a note. This is now the third day from the call of the first disciples.

Jesus' mother is also at this wedding, as both his mother and disciples were invited. My study bible notes that it was perhaps a wedding of a relative. (Ancient Church tradition holds that it was the wedding of Simon the Zealot.) We know from the end of the passage that Jesus will travel the next day to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and disciples. Cana is not far from Jesus' childhood home of Nazareth (see map of Galilee). Galilee is also home to many of Jesus' disciples. By his presence at the marriage, my study bible notes, "Jesus declares marriage to be holy and honorable." This passage is read at weddings in various branches of the Church.

And here we come to the interaction of mother and son. We must understand the tradition of intercession, exemplified in this passage. In the oldest branches of the Church, Mary is seen as having the gift of intercession on our behalf; that is, continually praying for us or with us. She is the human being, who, responding with her "Yes" to the annunciation of Gabriel, sheltered and brought forth Jesus into the world. In this sense, she is the first among us who would follow and do our best to do likewise. My study bible says that the title, "Woman" is one of respect and distinction; Jesus will address his mother from the Cross in the same way, as well as three other women in John's gospel who will be his followers. Thus, Jesus gives great dignity to women. His answer is not a refusal but a statement about "his time" of self-revelation. My study bible notes that "my hour" usually refers to the time of Jesus' glorification: the Passion, death, Resurrection, Ascension. But his mother expects he will act and instructs the servants to do whatever he says!

The waterpots are made of stone (rather than clay) for ritual purity. Six may symbolize a number "less than completion" (see commentary above on the number seven), and for the old Levitical law. The water therefore is the old dispensation, which Jesus is to fulfill in himself. So, the miracle of transformation into wine reminds us of the Eucharist. Just as Jesus will be the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and the transformation and transfiguration of the old into the new, the abundance of this "good wine" is the new promise, the new life brought out of the old by this transforming power. As Logos ("Word"), Jesus only has to say "the word" and it is immediately done. I'm going to quote a note from my study bible regarding Jesus' miracles in this gospel: "The seven signs of this gospel point to something beyond themselves: the mystery of the Incarnate God at work in His mighty and saving acts; the Kingdom of God being inaugurated by Jesus. The disciples see His glory -- His divine power which reveals that He comes from the Father -- and are strengthened in their faith in Him."

From the Christmastide readings of Jesus' birth and early life until now, we have seen the action of the Spirit of God at work in all those elements, and especially through all the people, the characters that make up these stories. This first miracle, though, presents us with something completely new. This is the power of the Logos manifest to us as God and human, in one person. Jesus has only to say the word and it is done. This powerful transformation, transfiguration: from the ritual purity of the purpose of the stone jars into the abundance of the wine, for the pleasure and delight of the wedding guests, teaches us so much about what we are to understand of this Kingdom of Jesus. His powerful transformational Presence, his Word alone, is enough to bring us joy and abundance of gifts. We celebrate the marriage feast every day of Bride and Groom as the Church sees it: Jesus is the Groom, his bride is the Church. We are in abundance, and in grace. His mother intercedes for us by prayer, as we intercede and pray for one another in this Body of Christ. By this act, Jesus has taken relatedness one step further, beyond the law and the prophets. We are all here to intercede for one another as believers; there are the great communion of saints within which we all pray. Time is immaterial as it is in this conversion of water to wine - the reality of this communion is timeless and eternal as is the nature of the Kingdom in which we dwell. Abundance is its nature, goodness its message, and a time of joy. Remember that nature and that joy and that abundance in the good wine; it is the mark of His Word for us, the place in which we seek to dwell within ourselves in faith - no matter what the world may present us with in life. Seek that joy in prayer and taste the abundance for yourself.